In October 2021, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) put out a request for public comment on the use and regulation of AI-enabled biometric technologies, including facial recognition. OSTP invited comment on a wide range of questions related to biometric technologies, including their potential harms, and approaches to governance.
The Science, Technology, and Public Policy program's Technology Assessment Project recently conducted an investigation of the potential implications of using facial recognition (FR) technology in schools, Cameras in the Classroom: Facial Recognition Technology in Schools. Shobita Parthasarathy, STPP's director, submitted a response outlining the likely harms of facial recognition in schools, as well as policy recommendations to mitigate those harm.
"On this basis of our research, we strongly recommend that facial recognition be banned in school settings, on the basis of the far-reaching harm it is capable of; however, should schools proceed with its implementation, we have policy recommendations regarding its development, deployment, and regulation," writes Parthasarathy.
Read the full letter (Adobe PDF)
