Moodbeam HR emotion tracking blasted as 'invasive'

A wristband-based system that enables organisations to assess and compare the emotional state of individuals and teams was criticised for being inappropriate and invasive.

According to the BBC, UK-based AI start-up Moodbeam is hawking wearable silicon wristbands that its says enable organisations to assess and compare the emotional state of individuals and teams.

Workers are encouraged to push yellow and blue buttons that indicate they are happy or sad; the data is then reported to workers' managers via a dashboard that includes a 'Daily Happiness Score'.

Some commentators are less enthusiastic, reckoning it is unnecessary, invasive, and likely to be inaccurate given how easily bored or frustrated workers can game it.

On its website, Moodbeam claimed purported benefits for employers included 'Increased productivity', 'Improved petention', and 'Reduced absenteeism'. 

News, commentary, analysis 🗞️

• https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/business-55637328

• https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/03/12/hr-departments-impose-tech-tyranny-woke-workplace/

• https://www.zdnet.com/article/your-boss-just-gave-you-a-pretty-wristband-it-reveals-what-mood-youre-in/

• https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/big-brother-style-wristbands-track-23730823

• https://brobible.com/culture/article/employees-wristband-alerts-boss-unhappy/

• https://inews.co.uk/opinion/columnists/mood-tracking-apps-moodbeam-employerare-no-solution-mental-health-crisis-lockdown-841398

• https://uk.news.yahoo.com/moodbeam-boss-happy-182618476.html

• https://index.medium.com/companies-want-managers-to-track-your-mood-with-a-wristband-b64d3a95b5cc

• https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/loose-women-share-feelings-hull-4918390

• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9159037/Wristband-tracks-emotional-state-lets-bosses-monitor-employees-wellbeing-lockdown.html

• https://www.dailydot.com/irl/moodbeam-surveillance-tech/