New York State places temporary ban on facial recognition in schools

The governor of the New York State (USA) has signed legislation that suspends the use of facial recognition and other biometric technology in schools, and calls for a study reviewing the implications of such uses. Schools are banned from purchasing and using biometric technologies until at least 1 July 2022 or until the study is completed and the State Education Commissioner authorises their use. Earlier this year, the New York Civil Liberties Union sued the State Education Department over its decision to approve the installation of facial recognition in the Lockport School District, raising concerns over potential privacy violations and racial and gender bias.