UK to use facial recognition in schools

according to an article The Financial TimesNine schools in North Ayrshire (UK) will start charging for lunch in their cafeterias by scanning the faces of students.

The idea is that in addition to accelerating food delivery times with this facial recognition technology, contact can be reduced during a pandemic.

Both the school and the company that developed the system, CRB Cunningham, assured that the system would address security and privacy concerns.

According to the company, its hardware doesn’t use live facial recognition (actively scanning large groups) and is compared to an “encrypted faceprint” template.

These establishments already use fingerprint readers, so the firm states that this is a change in biometric technology and not a new layer of security.

Managers also fear fraud with traditional PINs, which is why they encourage this system, as facial recognition should be more secure.

Ayrshire’s local authorities said that 97 percent of children or their parents had consented to the use of the controversial technology.

However, some English human rights organizations have criticized the measure: they argue that facial recognition is arbitrary.

“It is feared that implantation in schools could normalize facial scanning and make students vulnerable to privacy concerns,” said an article published in the Journal. Engadget.

“If you grew up with this technology, you might not mind being displayed in airports or at music festivals.”

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