Court Ordered Chetu to Pay Damages Over Remote Webcam Rule
The firm was ordered to pay €75,000 after firing an employee who refused constant video monitoring.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Remote Work
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In a 2022 ruling, a court ordered U.S.-based software company Chetu to pay a former employee approximately €75,000 for unfair dismissal. The company terminated the worker after he refused to keep his webcam active for his entire nine-hour shift.
Why it matters
This case highlights the legal risks for firms imposing invasive digital oversight on remote workers, as courts increasingly distinguish between office-based presence and remote video surveillance. Employers failing to justify persistent monitoring face significant financial exposure for wrongful termination.
The €75,000 court-ordered payout includes €50,000 for improper dismissal handling, €8,373.13 for a missed notice period, and €9,501.47 in statutory transition compensation. The ruling followed the company's requirement that the employee remain visible via webcam for a nine-hour shift.
The players
Chetu
A United States-based software development company that provides customized programming services.
The details
Chetu mandated that the employee keep his camera on throughout the work day, arguing that remote observation was equivalent to in-office supervision. The court rejected this justification and found no evidence of work refusal or insubordination by the employee. Because the company failed to file a defense or appear at the hearing, the court issued its judgment regarding the termination and the privacy-related dispute.
Timeline
The employee was fired by Chetu in 2022.
Market Landscape
This case follows established precedents where courts have limited the reach of employer monitoring in remote work settings. It highlights a recurring conflict between traditional oversight models and the protected privacy rights of employees in their own homes.
Business owners should ensure that remote monitoring policies are proportional and strictly defined to avoid claims of workplace privacy violations. Managers must verify that any digital surveillance tools are legally permissible and essential before enforcing them as a condition of employment.
The takeaway
The court's decision serves as a reminder that remote work supervision is subject to the same privacy limitations as physical workspaces. Operators should review their digital oversight policies with legal counsel to confirm they meet local standards for employee privacy and termination notice requirements.
Further reading
For more on evolving oversight standards, visit Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Star.
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