Safe from Surveillance

Facial Recognition Moves Into a New Front: Schools by Davey Alba
The New York Times, February 6, 2020

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Public schools in Lockport, NY, are among the first in the nation to begin using facial recognition software as a safety measure. This New York Times article tells the story of how a concerned parent, Jim Schultz, attempted to stop the district’s plans. The story highlights the tension for schools between the competing goods of safety and privacy. Proponents of facial recognition software argue that schools should use all available tools to keep students safe, noting that cameras can alert school personnel if an expelled student, terminated employee, or registered sex offender comes to campus. The same software can also pick up the presence of weapons and automatically alert law enforcement to concerns. Opponents of the use of this technology in schools, such as the father profiled here, argue a counterpoint: that children should not be subjected to a massive experiment in surveillance. Those quoted in the article cite questions of data privacy, especially for minors, and point to proven racial bias in facial recognition tools. As independent school leaders grapple with how to prioritize safety while keeping school culture intact and healthy, this article points to a dilemma likely coming our way.