China is putting surveillance cameras in plenty of schools

Being watched by facial recognition cameras while walking around schools is not a scenario out of science fiction anymore.

Responding to deadly shootings, US schools are turning to facial recognition technology to try and prevent them happening. Lockport City schools have been installing a facial recognition-enabled system that will supposedly detect dangerous people on campus – and alert the police. Schools in Broward County are adding a surveillance system that can supposedly recognize unusual behavior (though not with facial recognition).

It’s not a surprise that reaction has been strong. There are deep concerns about how much tracking these systems do, the impact on privacy, what it means for the rights of the students being watched, and the security of the data generated.

Equally, it probably shouldn’t be a surprise that surveillance in schools is common in China, where attitudes are very different.

In schools across China, facial recognition cameras are being installed in gates, canteens and even classrooms to watch over students. But it’s said to be less about preventing crime and more about helping schools and teachers manage students.

Unsurprisingly, Chinese state media cheers the use of facial recognition as part of “using big data to improve life on campus.” There’s a big push for smart campuses across the country and increased surveillance – part of China’s massive Skynet.

Some schools use them to allow students to check in simply by scanning their face, like the prestigious Peking University and a number of high schools. Others set up facial recognition in canteens to let students pay for their meals that way.

Most of these might seem benign or even useful, but other schools have faced criticism for more invasive uses. One high school in Hangzhou experienced backlash on Chinese social media for using cameras to analyze the faces of students… to see if they’re dozing off in class.

A camera installed in a classroom at Hangzhou No.11 High School / Photo credit: Sina

Several schools are also buying “intelligent uniforms,” which are equipped with a chip to precisely track students. When combined with a facial recognition system, they can ensure that someone hasn’t just grabbed a friend’s jacket for the day.

The company producing the uniforms says it designed the device for the safety of students. It’s now exporting them to other Asian countries like India.

But Chinese netizens are skeptical about the uniforms. One user on Q&A website Zhihu said, “If you’re designing the uniforms for the students’ safety, why are you planning to add an ‘anti-dozing-off’ function?”

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