Monitoring students intensifies in the new academic term: Insights into school surveillance strategies
Schools Under Scrutiny: Navigating Surveillance in the Time of COVID-19
As we approach September, the usual buzz surrounding a new school year is overshadowed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Different nations are eager to reopen schools, leaving many concerned about ensuring safety in the short and medium term.
While there are some well-intentioned—but insufficient—guidelines in place, such as split-scheduling, smaller class sizes, and staggered breaks, there have also been overzealous attempts to increase mass surveillance under the guise of health concerns.
For instance, the implementation and subsequent walk-back of facial recognition in New York schools have prompted discussions about the emergence of various surveillance measures. It's crucial to understand what schools might consider implementing as we navigate this new normal.
1. Contact-tracing apps
Contact-tracing apps, although less invasive, have raised concerns about privacy and security, particularly when it comes to Bluetooth technology and the definition of "contact." Some universities are mandating these apps, which could potentially include location tracking or personally identifiable information, further eroding student privacy.
2. Increased facial recognition
Thermal scanners have become a common sight, but there are fears that face scanners might follow. Despite the flaws and biases of facial recognition, schools still entertain it as a possibility to monitor student behavior at school.
3. Wearable tracking beacons
Institutions primarily focusing on primary school students, where mobile phone usage may not be as widespread, are considering wearable tracking beacons to enforce social distancing. The idea of requiring children to wear physical tracking devices at school is deeply concerning for privacy advocates.
4. Monitoring student behavior
The shift to online learning has raised privacy concerns, particularly due to security vulnerabilities in video conferencing apps. Schools' use of mass surveillance measures and employee monitoring could easily be applied to children, further eroding their privacy and potentially breeding resentment.
The evolving landscape of school surveillance
Individual privacy seems to be dwindling in the face of efforts to control the outbreak, with a real risk that these measures could become permanent. Surveillance, regardless of setting, has a significant impact on our behavior and thought patterns.
Schools might not face a high standard of scrutiny regarding the surveillance technology they adopt, but the recent withdrawal of facial recognition in New York schools gives us hope that with enough pressure, invasive and ineffective measures can be reversed. Institutions should be held responsible for the technology they use on their students.
Technology is increasingly being used in education and self-development, with contact-tracing apps and wearable tracking beacons becoming common tools for enforcing safety measures in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, concerns persist about the privacy and security of these technologies, with the shift to online learning further eroding student privacy and potentially breeding resentment. It's important for institutions to consider the ethical implications of using such technology on students and to ensure they are held accountable for their choices.
