Brain-scanning hard hats pit worker safety against privacy rights
Source: Latest News from Science Magazine
Construction firms are deploying EEG-enabled helmets that monitor cognitive fatigue in real time, a legitimate response to workplace deaths. The biometric collection creates permanent vulnerability to state or corporate surveillance at the point of hire. The efficiency gain—preventing tired workers from operating heavy machinery—depends on workers trusting they won't be flagged for termination, insurance denial, or law enforcement data access. Existing labor and data law doesn't provide that protection.