Commenting on the ICO issuing a reprimand to Chelmer Valley High School in Essex for using facial recognition technology to take canteen payments, Mark Johnson, Advocacy Manager at Big Brother Watch said:
“The faceprints taken by these systems contain highly sensitive biometric data. No child should have to go through these kind of border-style identity checks just to get a school meal.
“It is encouraging that the ICO have intervened on this occasion. Children should be taught how to look after their personal data, not treated like walking bar-codes by their own schools and encouraged to give away their biometric data on a whim.”
ENDS.
Notes:
Spokespeople are available for interview – please contact 07730439257 or info@bigbrotherwatch.org.uk