Does artificial intelligence (AI) technology such as gunshot detection, facial recognition and other biometric measurements make schools safer?
In New York, the state’s Department of Education has permanently banned the use of facial recognition technology in schools — the first state to do so.
While it’s too early to know if other states will follow New York’s lead, the state’s new policy should serve as a reminder to school district leaders across the country that they should proceed with caution when it comes to implementing facial recognition technology and any other tech that gathers biometric data on students, say experts in school security and student data privacy.
They advise schools to scrutinize the claims made by vendors of these technologies and be fully aware of their drawbacks when it comes to student data privacy and school climate.
Schools have been using COVID recovery funds to buy security equipment and hardware because they have that pot of money that doesn’t come from the district operating budget. But tools like these are often used to solve political and community relations problems, rather than school safety problems. When there is gun use or confiscation on campus, school boards and superintendents often make automatic decisions and play to the emotional security needs of parents and staff.
Security products such as facial and weapons recognition technology — which is powered by artificial intelligence — can be an alluring solution for school boards and superintendents looking to reassure parents that their school campuses are safe.
These products, in many cases, are purchased with a one-time grant, but principals and school staff are not adequately trained or given all the tools they need to properly use it, and no ongoing funding from the district’s general budget is dedicated to maintenance. This can render the technology largely useless from a school safety and security perspective.
School districts should consider how they plan to pay for upkeep and training staff on any new security tech they invest in.
In addition, many companies that provide AI-powered school security technologies lease the hardware to schools and sell subscriptions to the software, so districts also need to have a plan for how they will continue to pay for these services out of their operating budgets.Source: Education Week