On Monday a dozen schools across Ayrshire will introduce facial recognition cameras for the payment of school meals.
Staff say that the technology is being introduced to reduce waiting times and as a Covid-safe alternative to their current payment method.
The move has sparked a fierce backlash from privacy campaigners.
“It’s normalising biometric identity checks for something that is mundane. You don’t need to resort to airport style [technology] for children getting their lunch,” said Silkie Carlo of the campaign group Big Brother Watch.
Financial Times – Facial recognition cameras arrive in UK school canteens
The Guardian – ICO to step in after schools use facial recognition to speed up lunch queue
Schools Week – Facial recognition systems off the menu as schools reverse plans
Express – ‘Invasion of privacy’ Parents fury at schools using facial recognition for lunch payments