Microsoft Teams serves as a vital tool for workplace communication, enabling millions to exchange messages, hold video calls, and share documents. A forthcoming addition, outlined in the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, is set to debut in March 2026 and may spark unease among users and privacy experts alike.
The update allows Teams to detect and update a user's work location automatically when they join the company's Wi-Fi network, indicating the specific building they occupy. It starts disabled by default, with organization administrators choosing to activate it and mandating user consent for participation.
While seemingly straightforward, this capability raises privacy issues by revealing colleagues' positions in real time as they shift between Wi-Fi zones within the premises. Such visibility could facilitate surprise visits or impromptu in-person gatherings, and it might hinder efforts to find secluded spots for uninterrupted focus.
More critically, employers could leverage this to track adherence to flexible work arrangements, such as verifying if staff follow schedules like three office days and two remote. It might also flag consistent remote work patterns or track arrival times to address punctuality concerns. In return-to-office scenarios, the tool could support compliance with internal rules.
Labeled as under development, the functionality is slated for worldwide deployment in March 2026 on both Windows and macOS platforms. Initial timelines targeted a December 2025 launch, which shifted to February 2026 before the latest one-month delay.