Debate over Microsoft Teams' upcoming automatic employee location updates

(Dan Tri) - A new update of Microsoft Teams will automatically display the user's work building location based on Wi-Fi connection.

This change is facing mixed opinions about privacy in the workplace (Photo: Microsoft).

According to a new update on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, the Teams application will soon add the feature to automatically determine user location.

Specifically, as soon as the device connects to the company's Wi-Fi network or pairs with sharing devices such as screens, speakers, docks or "hot desks", Teams will automatically display the building where the user is present.

This is explained by Microsoft as being aimed at optimizing the collaboration experience, helping hybrid work groups easily identify who is in the office and who is working remotely to schedule meetings more effectively.

However, this change is stirring up a wave of strong debate in the global technology and human resources world.

Zak Doffman, a security and privacy expert, wrote in Forbes that this is “bad news for millions of office workers.” He said the automatic integration of location data is “a classic example of the philosophy that technology can do but shouldn’t.”

Location data is one of the most sensitive types of data because it can reveal workers' travel patterns, attendance times, and even personal habits, according to Doffman.

“With just one misstep in data management, location information can become a tool for surveillance or discrimination,” he warned.

Many security experts also emphasize that although this feature only displays the building name, not the exact coordinates, it still creates a risk of privacy invasion, especially if businesses use the data to check the time of attendance or work frequency of employees.

On forums like Reddit and the Microsoft Tech Community, users have expressed concern that Teams is “going too far” in tracking employees. “I don’t need my boss to know what floor I’m on as long as I get the work done,” one user wrote.

Some HR experts worry that the culture of trust within a company could be damaged. “It’s counterproductive to have a collaboration tool that becomes a surveillance tool,” Singapore-based HR expert Lina Chen told TechRadar Pro.

“Trying to find some quiet in the office to focus on work could soon be a thing of the past,” commented TechRadar, which first spotted the update.

Responding to the controversy, Microsoft said the feature does not track GPS location, but only records internal network location (Wi-Fi or connected devices) to help colleagues know who is in the same area.

The company emphasizes that users and administrators can customize or disable this feature in the Admin Center settings. The company's documentation also states: Users are in the opt-out state by default and will be asked for consent when enabling the feature. Administrators cannot grant permissions on behalf of users.

According to Windows Reports, the move shows that Microsoft is aiming to make collaboration more seamless by ensuring colleagues always know where team members are working.

The update is expected to roll out globally to Microsoft Teams users on both Windows and Mac operating systems starting in December.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/cong-nghe/tranh-luan-viec-microsoft-teams-sap-tu-dong-cap-nhat-vi-tri-nhan-vien-20251024094334102.htm