New York City has banned the use of facial recognition technology in its public school systems following concerns over student privacy and data misuse. The Department of Education, in a new policy statement, said the technology poses risks to children’s biometric data security and may lead to unwarranted surveillance.
The move was prompted by parent groups and civil rights organizations. Schools will now rely on traditional ID-based systems and enhanced physical security instead.
The decision is likely to influence similar debates in other parts of the world, including Asian cities where digital surveillance in education is expanding rapidly.
