HSBC plans to increase surveillance of its staff and buildings by adding more cameras and biometric access to its premises globally. The bank’s new building in the City of London is expected to have 1,754 cameras, a four-fold increase from its current number of devices. Biometric readers will also be doubled, allowing for full-hand recognition for access to top-tier buildings.
The move comes amid growing concerns about companies’ extensive monitoring of workers. HSBC’s security project is overseen by Diane Marchena, who reports to Chief Operating Officer Suzy White. The bank has been working with Israeli firm Octopus since 2024, adopting some of its surveillance tools in the UK and Hong Kong.
The new London building will include cameras at entry and exit points of trading floors, as well as artificial intelligence analytics. The bank’s budget for the initial rollout was recently tripled to around $15 million. HSBC aims to implement biometric verification for access to its top-tier buildings, including in Britain and the US, starting this year.
The move has raised concerns about risks to workers’ rights and wellbeing, with some staff opposing the use of personal mobile phones with firm-installed software for biometric access. Despite opposition, most employees are expected to adhere to the new policy.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/hsbc-plans-major-global-expansion-office-staff-surveillance-documents-show-2025-08-14