Safety AI and GDPR
What You Need to Know
Safety and Privacy Can Work Together
AI is helping workplaces become safer than ever by detecting hazards in real time—reducing accidents and improving responses. But alongside these benefits, Safety AI systems often process personal data, which brings GDPR requirements into play.
You don’t need to be a legal expert to navigate this, but it helps to understand how privacy and safety can go hand in hand—and how your Safety AI system can support both.
Why GDPR Applies to Safety AI
Even without facial recognition1, Safety AI systems capture video footage and logs that can indirectly identify people—through clothing, movement, or shift patterns. That qualifies as “personal data” under GDPR.
When you deploy the system, you’re usually the Data Controller responsible for how personal data is collected and used. Event Gates acts as a Data Processor, providing technology and support while respecting privacy principles.
How Event Gates Safety AI Supports GDPR Compliance
Event Gates has built privacy-by-design into its Safety AI platform to help you meet GDPR expectations easily:
- Local Edge Processing: All data analysis happens on-site, on edge devices, eliminating the need for cloud storage or internet transfers. This reduces exposure and helps keep personal data within your controlled environment.
- Event-Based Recording: Instead of continuous video surveillance, the system records only when safety-critical events occur. This data minimization approach limits unnecessary personal data collection.
- Person Blurring: You can enable blurring of detected individuals in videos and snapshots, further reducing identifiability while maintaining safety monitoring.
- Configurable Retention Policies: The system supports automatic deletion of old videos and logs based on retention periods you define, ensuring data isn’t stored longer than needed.
- Secure Access Controls: Access to the system is password protected, with audit logs recording user activity. The physical security of hardware is also considered part of the solution.
- Transparency Tools: Event Gates provides sample privacy notices and guidance to help you inform employees and visitors about monitoring in a clear, GDPR-compliant way.
- DPIA Support: We offer templates and guides for Data Protection Impact Assessments, which help you identify privacy risks before deploying Safety AI—an important GDPR step when using new tech for workplace monitoring.
Practical Tips for Compliance
Alongside the product’s privacy features, consider these steps:
- Ensure you have a documented lawful basis for processing—typically legitimate interest (for safety) or legal obligation.
- Use clear signage and internal communications to maintain transparency.
- Prepare procedures to handle data subject requests, such as access or deletion, even if they occur rarely.
- Regularly review retention and security settings.
Final Thought
Safety and privacy don’t have to be at odds. With a thoughtfully designed Safety AI system like Event Gates and a few good practices, your workplace can be safer and GDPR compliant.
If you want to dive deeper, learn more about privacy and data protection in our wiki.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance, consult your legal or compliance team.
- No face recognition: Event Gates Safety AI does not perform facial recognition under any circumstances. This functionality is not implemented in the system. ↩︎
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