Schools are increasingly using surveillance cameras to keep an eye on their students.
WATCH: How One School Is Using AI to Give Their Students Feedback
A new report from the Dallas Morning News has revealed that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor students is widespread in schools across the country. Many campuses say computer monitoring is necessary to protect and save the lives of students who are at risk of harming themselves or others. But some observers are crying foul.
“When students know they’re being monitored by AI, they’re less likely to share their true thoughts online and more cautious about what they search for,” Nir Kshetri, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro who studies digital communities, told Lifewire via email. “This can prevent vulnerable groups, like students with mental health issues, from getting needed services. When students know their every move, read and write is being monitored, they’re also less likely to develop into adults with high levels of self-esteem.”
The news report claims that the company Social Sentinel provided schools with technology to scan students’ social media posts. At least 37 colleges have used Social Sentinel since 2015. Social Sentinel has claimed that the service cannot be used to monitor protests, but the report found that it has been used for that purpose.
