Leitlinien

A number of European institutions, agencies and bodies (EUIs) have implemented body temperature checks as part of the health and safety measures adopted in the context of their “return to the office” strategy as an appropriate complementary measure, among other necessary health and safety measures, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 contamination.

At the same time, systematic body temperature checks of staff and other visitors to filter access to EUIs premises may constitute an interference into individuals’ rights to private life and/or personal data protection. The EDPS observes that body temperature checks can be implemented through a variety of devices and processes that should be subject to careful assessment. The EDPS has decided to issue the present orientations to help EUIs and Data Protection Officers (DPOs) meet the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 (the Regulation), where applicable.

The European institutions, bodies and agencies have had to react to the COVID-19 crisis not only in their policy roles, but also in their roles as employers. Changes in operations, such as moving the vast majority of staff to remote working have raised numerous questions on which EUIs consulted the EDPS. 

This document compiles the advice given on questions such as teleworking tools, staff management, health data aspects and replying to data subject access requests. 

This document builds on the experience of the past months and addresses the issues that were raised to us or encountered by us and is still relevant because telework will most likely be a big part of the ‘new normal’ for EUIs work. 

EDPS Guidance on Article 25 of the Regulation 2018/1725 and internal rules updated on 24 June 2020.