Nine North Ayrshire Schools Pause Use of Facial Recognition

North Ayrshire schools pause a scheme that uses facial recognition technology following ICO's office inquiries.

07:36 03 November 2021

Nine schools in North Ayrshire have confirmed that they are pausing the use of facial recognition technology designed to encourage pupils to use contactless lunch payments. The announcement follows the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) inquiries on the potential intrusiveness of facial recognition in a school setting. 

 

Meanwhile, Great Academy Ashton in Ashton-under-Lyne said that it will completely drop the rollout of the technology. 

Taking to Twitter, North Ayrshire Council said: "Whilst we are confident the new facial recognition system is operating as planned, we felt it prudent to revert to the previous Pin (personal identification number) system while we consider the inquiries received,"

 

Jen Persson, director of children-focused digital rights group Defend Digital Me, said she welcomed the council's decision.

 

"From places in the US to Europe, authorities are banning facial recognition," she said.

 

"But in the UK we are using children as guinea pigs for the most privacy-invasive technologies on the market."