NATIONAL DATAVEILLANCE STUDY: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Researchers at Dublin City University Business School are currently undertaking the first national dataveillance study of the impact of mandatory wearable location-tracking technologies on An Garda Síochána.

Led by Prof. Regina Connolly and Clíona McParland of DCU Business School in collaboration with the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors, the research examines the digital data privacy concerns of all Gardaí in relation to a wearable surveillance technology that has become mandatory for all active duty members of the police force, revealing its impact on the organisation. The findings will be used to advocate for transparent data governance and policy formulation.

Principal Investigator Prof. Regina Connolly from DCU Business School said:

“Increasing use of AI and monitoring technologies in the workplace are accentuating employee privacy concerns regarding data governance. This is a rare access invitation to conduct a nationwide examination of the information privacy implications of these technologies for An Garda Síochána, determining their individual and organizational impact in a unique public sector context. The insights from this study will inform data governance policy formation, as well as providing guidance to other commercial and public sector agencies considering similar workforce digital transformation initiatives.”

President of the Garda Representative Association, James Mulligan, said:

“We are very grateful to DCU Business School for leading this research. It will provide An Garda Síochána with the first national capture of the digital privacy and health concerns of all of our members, enabling us as to understand the large-scale impact of this mandatory location tracking technology on the organisation and assisting us in ensuring that data privacy concerns of Gardaí are fully addressed through appropriate governance policies.”