Scottish schools suspend facial-recognition payments after ICO intervention

Nine schools in North Ayrshire (Scotland) suspended the use of a facial-recognition system for paying meals in canteens after intervention by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office. The Register reports.

The regulator reminded that institutions using facial-recognition technologies must comply with data-protection law.

«The data protection law provides additional protection for children, and organisations should carefully consider the necessity and proportionality of collecting biometric data before doing so», said the Office.

They added that organisations should consider other, less intrusive methods of payment.

North Ayrshire Council confirmed the suspension of the technology’s operation:

«Having received a number of requests in recent days, we have temporarily suspended facial-recognition-based contactless payments in secondary schools».

Officials stressed that 97% of parents, guardians and children had consented to the use of facial scanning.

«While we are confident that the new facial-recognition system was operating as intended, we considered it prudent to revert to the previous system while the requests are considered», said the Council.

Privacy advocates welcomed the suspension of the technology.

«Now all schools in the United Kingdom should follow their example and move away from biometric data to cashless payments or to the least intrusive option», said Jen Persson, director of digitaldefendme.

In October, nine Scottish schools announced the rollout of a facial-recognition system for paying meals in canteens. It reduced service times and contacts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In September, it emerged that the U.S. Department of Defense would test facial recognition in children’s facilities.

In July, the Chinese tech giant Tencent deployed biometric identification to track child gamers, playing at night.

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