June 9, 2026, 9:40 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Microsoft is expanding Teams with a controversial tracking feature that can automatically detect employees’ work locations. The introduction of this long-debated feature was previously postponed but is now set to be completed worldwide by the end of June.
With the new feature in Microsoft Teams, the current work location of employees can be automatically determined. Microsoft had announced the feature last year but postponed its original launch. As of now, the rollout is expected to be completed worldwide by the end of June. The feature is available for Teams on Windows and macOS.
The basis for detection is the connection of a company device to the company’s network. This way, Teams can determine which building an employee is in or which workstation they are currently using.
Companies must activate the feature themselves
Microsoft does not automatically activate the new feature. It can only be used after being enabled by the employer’s administrators. For this, network data and existing office locations must be linked.
In addition to Wi-Fi networks, certain company devices can also serve as orientation for localization. These include, for example, screens or other technical work tools assigned to a specific location. Microsoft explains that the feature is primarily intended to facilitate the organization of hybrid work models. Employees should be able to quickly see which colleagues are currently on-site.
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Discussion on data protection continues
But this very point also draws heavy criticism. Since the first announcement, the feature has been the subject of controversial debate. Critics fear additional means of monitoring employees in their daily work. Microsoft, on the other hand, points out that no location data from private smartphones or personal computers is processed. The detection is limited to company-managed infrastructure and corresponding devices.
The question of who ultimately decides on the activation of location detection is particularly contentious. Microsoft provides the feature deactivated by default, so company administrators must first take action. They can determine whether the automatic detection of work locations is used at all and how employee consent is obtained. According to Microsoft’s published guidelines, different models are possible.
In the so-called opt-in procedure, employees must first explicitly agree to the feature. Alternatively, companies can choose a configuration where Wi-Fi-based location updates are enabled by default, and employees can opt out. According to Microsoft, the automatic update of the work location only occurs during recorded working hours. If a user connects to the company network after hours, no location update should take place. Additionally, work location entries are deleted at the end of the workday.
Microsoft emphasizes that users should retain control over their location information and decide whether to share their work location with colleagues. However, critics point out that the fundamental conditions are centrally determined by a company’s IT administrators. Whether employees can truly decide on usage depends significantly on the chosen configuration. This dependency between individual consent and administrative control is at the heart of the data protection debate.
Also of interest: Lawyer warns! Microsoft Teams location tracking could be illegal
Meta also criticized for data collection
While Microsoft ties the use of its new Teams feature to the decisions of companies and employees, Meta is criticized for far more extensive surveillance measures.
The company had begun logging keyboard and mouse inputs of its employees. According to media reports, Meta wants to use the collected data, among other things, to train AI models. After protests within the workforce, the company has partially adjusted the rules. Employees should now be able to pause the recording for a limited time or request removal from the program.
There were also complaints about the large amount of data transferred, especially from home offices. Meta subsequently announced plans to make data collection more efficient. In May, the company also cut around 8,000 jobs, which is about ten percent of the workforce.