Several Samsung affiliates are reportedly rolling out new facial recognition technology to prevent trade secrets from being leaked. Under the new technology, remote workers will have their faces scanned from six different angles to authenticate their identities before accessing the company's systems.

Starting September 2, Samsung Display will test the new authentication system with partners, business travelers, remote workers, and dispatched employees. Other affiliates such as Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDI, and Samsung SDS are also adopting similar security measures. However, the move has been met with opposition from labor unions, who say it is excessive and an invasion of employee privacy.

Samsung's new security system not only requires a comprehensive facial scan before granting access but also conducts continuous monitoring during work. If an employee leaves the computer and the system no longer recognizes their face, the screen will automatically turn off. Similarly, if the system detects another person within the scanning range in front of the screen, it will also take the same action.

The union is concerned that Samsung's authentication system is excessive, invading privacy and treating employees as criminals. Meanwhile, a Samsung Display representative asserted that this measure is only to prevent technology leaks.

Business Korea quoted a union source as saying that Samsung already has measures in place to prevent trade secret leaks, including storing computer usage records and inserting watermarks when employees access the network remotely. However, in reality, leaks still occur. Samsung's affiliates, including Samsung Display, have repeatedly faced the problem of unauthorized trade secret disclosure. Last year, a former Samsung Display researcher colluded with colleagues to transfer the company's OLED technology to other display companies in China and South Korea.