School surveillance: Balancing student safety against student privacy

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• January 13, 2022

Insight summary

The rise of technology companies offering surveillance options to schools has sparked a debate about the balance between security and privacy. While some school administrations believe that extensive monitoring can prevent harmful behaviors, research suggests that pervasive surveillance can negatively impact students' academic performance and feelings of safety. As surveillance becomes normalized in educational settings, it could influence societal attitudes towards privacy, lead to stricter government regulations on data collection, and prompt a more data-driven approach to education.

School surveillance context 

Numerous technology companies have emerged in recent years that offer round-the-clock surveillance options to schools, enabling them to skim through the content of student emails and browsing history for suspicious or detrimental behavior. Some school administrations believe that extensive online and physical monitoring can prevent cyberbullying, self-harm, and even school shootings. However, the increase in student surveillance is controversial, with many experts worrying about the long-term impact of such extreme measures. 

School surveillance efforts grew noticeably during the 2010s primarily to root out harmful behaviors in students, such as debilitating mental health problems that could make them a danger to themselves or others. In addition, tech companies like Bark offer free surveillance systems to school administrators, allowing them to follow up on alarming online activities quickly. An increase in school shootings in the US, like the Parkland shooting in 2018, has also led to the tightening of school surveillance efforts, with software having the ability to monitor online student activity 24 hours a day. Other methods of school surveillance include random drug testing, metal detectors, security cameras, and strict dress codes. 

However, recent research questions the efficacy of pervasive surveillance efforts. Traditional surveillance methods like security cameras lead to students feeling unsafe in schools. Research also reveals that high-surveillance schools have lower math scores than the average. Additionally, such surveillance can worsen discrimination against students of color by making it harder to implement essential tools like restorative justice. Furthermore, research highlights the impact of surveillance on student behavior, showing that high-schoolers enrolled in high-surveillance schools have a greater suspension rate than more lenient institutions. Students from such schools also report lower levels of college enrolment and graduation. 

Disruptive impact 

As surveillance becomes normalized in educational settings, students may grow accustomed to constant monitoring, which could influence their perception of privacy as adults. This shift in societal norms could lead to a more accepting attitude towards surveillance in other public spaces, such as parks, shopping centers, and workplaces. This acceptance could encourage companies to invest more in surveillance technologies, leading to a significant expansion of the surveillance industry.

However, this acceptance of surveillance may also lead to a critical dialogue about the balance between security and privacy. As surveillance becomes more pervasive, individuals may begin to question the trade-offs between personal privacy and collective security. This could lead to a push for more transparent and accountable use of surveillance technologies, both in schools and in other public spaces. Governments may be compelled to enact stricter regulations on data collection and usage.

As surveillance technologies become more sophisticated, they could be used not just for security purposes, but also for monitoring student behavior and performance. This shift could lead to a more data-driven approach to education, where teachers and administrators use surveillance data to identify struggling students, monitor classroom engagement, and tailor teaching methods to individual student needs. However, this approach also raises ethical questions about the extent to which student behavior should be monitored and the potential for misuse of this data.

Implications of school surveillance

Wider implications of school surveillance may include: 

• New innovations that can help teachers and school counselors proactively identify struggling students and provide them with adequate resources or interventions. 
• Normalizing a surveillance state within the minds of younger generations of citizens.
• Stigmatizing low-income and minority students compared to students from more affluent communities.
• Stricter regulations on data collection and usage, ensuring that these technologies are used responsibly and ethically.
• An increased demand for professionals skilled in data analysis and cybersecurity.
• Increased electronic waste due to the production of surveillance devices if not managed responsibly.
• The development of surveillance-based evaluations of learning, which may trigger pushback from parents, teachers, and students.

Questions to consider

• Do you think there are better ways to identify and help students struggling with mental health issues? 
• Do you think school surveillance systems can effectively prevent shootings and other criminality inside school settings?