Employees at Isaac Morris Ltd., a Garment District apparel company producing licensed merchandise for brands like Disney and Lady Gaga, were blindsided by an abrupt shift to facial recognition for building access. According to staff, an unexpected email from the IT department announced that the existing swipe-card system would be replaced, with company representatives soon arriving to “capture a scan” of employees’ faces. No updated policy, consent form, or opt-out option was provided—only the alternative of using a numeric entry code, which many saw as less convenient. Some staff members described the mandate as “a total invasion of privacy,” questioning why such technology was necessary for primarily administrative and customer service roles.

The facial recognition cameras and software are already in place and undergoing tests, with the system set to go live next week. Employees say they have received no clear explanation of how long their biometric data will be stored, who will have access to it, or what safeguards exist to prevent misuse. Concerns range from unauthorized access to potential repurposing or manipulation of facial data. “Could someone use our facial data or entry codes to gain access on our behalf?” one employee asked, stressing the need for strict controls.

The normalization of facial recognition in private workplaces reflects how both governments and corporations are shaping a world ready to embrace total surveillance. The Beast system will exert complete control over buying, selling, and personal freedoms—a control made easier when corporations, without legal mandate, adopt invasive technologies that condition the public to accept them as normal. This case demonstrates how private industry can act as a willing partner in building the infrastructure of the coming global system, implementing government-style mandates voluntarily and paving the way for a future where civil liberty is sacrificed for convenience.

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SOURCE: NY Post