1 week ago
TCS Denies Tracking Employees Amid Laptop Monitoring Report
A report said TCS had turned on a computer-monitoring tool for many employees.
The report claimed the tool could show which applications were used and how long they were open.
Some sources said this could help protect company data and fix technology problems.
They also worried that it might be used to watch individual employees.
TCS rejected that idea and said the reports were inaccurate.
The company said it checks broad network performance rather than tracking individual workers.
The exact software and the information it collects have not been publicly explained.
TCS has also worked with Zscaler on workplace technology, but it is not known whether that is the same system.
The disagreement is mainly about whether the tool measures systems generally or individual employee activity.
Moneycontrol reported that TCS activated a Digital User Experience Monitoring tool on laptops used by nearly six lakh employees.
The report said the tool could identify applications accessed and measure time spent on them.
TCS called claims of employee surveillance “baseless and inaccurate” and said it does not track individual laptop activity.
The company said its tools monitor macro-level network performance, security and availability, and employee digital experience.
The software provider, configuration, collected data and access permissions remain undisclosed, and its possible link to Zscaler technology has not been established.
- Who
- Tata Consultancy Services, its nearly six lakh company-laptop users, Moneycontrol’s sources, and TCS, which denied the surveillance claims.
- What
- A report described a Digital User Experience Monitoring tool that could identify applications used and time spent; TCS said its tools do not track individual employee activity.
- Where
- On TCS-issued laptops and across the company’s digital workplace and network infrastructure.
- When
- The report and TCS clarification were published in the context of increased workplace-monitoring and data-security scrutiny; no specific activation date is provided.
- Why
- TCS says its tools are intended to improve network performance, security, availability and employee digital experience; the report also cited preventing data leaks and controlling device activity.
Network Performance and Security
Employee Surveillance Concerns
What the monitoring is for
Network Performance and Security
TCS says its digital tools monitor macro-level network performance to support security, availability and a better employee experience. Pareekh Jain said such systems can also identify application problems and measure user experience.
Employee Surveillance Concerns
Moneycontrol’s sources said the reported capabilities could reveal applications used and time spent, creating the possibility of monitoring individual employee activity.
Individual tracking
Network Performance and Security
TCS explicitly says it does not track individual employee activity on company laptops and respects employee privacy.
Employee Surveillance Concerns
The report raised concerns that application and time data could be linked to individual workers, especially when employees use client virtual desktop infrastructure.
Transparency and data risks
Network Performance and Security
Broad network visibility may help companies prevent data leaks, detect unusual network behavior and maintain business applications.
Employee Surveillance Concerns
The undisclosed software configuration, data collection and access controls have prompted concerns about client-data confidentiality, potential breaches and the management of large volumes of monitoring data.
Key facts
- Company
- Tata Consultancy Services
- Reported reach
- Nearly six lakh employees using company-issued laptops
- Reported capability
- Identifying applications accessed and measuring time spent on them
- TCS position
- The reports are “baseless and inaccurate”; TCS says it does not track individual employee activity
- Stated TCS purposes
- Monitoring macro-level network performance, security, availability and employee digital experience
- Undisclosed details
- The specific software provider, configuration, precise data collected and access permissions
- Related partnership
- TCS previously launched Workspace Experience Studio with Zscaler Digital Experience, but its connection to the reported system has not been established
Quotes
Tata Consultancy Services
Indian information technology services company
“I think the intent is to understand whether the user experience is proper, whether the application is working properly or hanging, and how much time is being spent on each application”
livemint.com
“The reports regarding surveillance of employees are baseless and inaccurate. TCS does not track individual employee activity on laptops and respects their privacy.”
livemint.com
Sources
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