A coalition of more than 40 civil rights organizations has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, warning about the negative impact of increased surveillance technology in K12 schools. The coalition argues that such actions could lead to a dangerous escalation in the school-to-prison pipeline and the criminalization of marginalized youth, especially Black, Brown, and Indigenous students.
In their letter, the coalition emphasizes that the use of surveillance technologies in schools can result in greater police presence, increased police contact with students, exclusionary discipline, and school pushout. They urge the Department of Education to ban the use of federal funds for purchasing surveillance equipment, including those that utilize artificial intelligence.
To protect marginalized communities from technology-enabled rights abuses, the coalition has made six recommendations. These include divesting discretionary agency funding from police surveillance hardware, conducting algorithmic impact audits to ensure legal compliance of AI and big data technologies, studying the risks associated with surveillance tools in public schools, and involving youth and young adults in AI data privacy governance.
The coalition emphasizes that while some states have taken steps to address the issue of surveillance technology misuse in schools, there is still work to be done at a national level. They urge immediate action to prevent the transformation of America’s public schools into spaces of increased surveillance and potential harm to students.
In conclusion, this coalition’s letter highlights the dangers posed by increased surveillance technology in K12 schools and provides concrete recommendations on how to protect marginalized communities from its negative effects. The Department of Education should take heed of these warnings and take action immediately before it is too late for our children’s future.
