Under the GDPR, would a European company be allowed to use video surveillance to monitor employee access to inventory?

The use of video surveillance to monitor employee access to inventory can be permissible under the GDPR, but it must be conducted in accordance with specific conditions that safeguard employee privacy and rights. The GDPR mandates that such surveillance must be justified by legitimate interests, and these interests must not be overridden by the fundamental rights and freedoms of the employees being monitored.

Furthermore, the company must conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) to assess risks to privacy and implement measures to mitigate those risks. Transparency is also crucial; employees should be informed about the surveillance, the purpose of monitoring, and how the data will be used and stored. This ensures that the monitoring is proportionate and necessary for the intended purpose.

In summary, video surveillance in this context is permissible under the GDPR if the company adheres to these legal and ethical guidelines, making the choice of being allowed contingent on meeting several important conditions.