AI Surveillance in Schools: A Privacy Tightrope Walk

Numerous US schools employ AI-powered surveillance software to monitor student online activity, aiming to prevent school violence and student suicide. However, this practice raises serious privacy concerns. Unredacted student data obtained by news organizations reveals the software captures not only potential threats but also vast amounts of sensitive personal information, including struggles with depression, heartbreak, family issues, and even outing LGBTQ+ students. While the software helps schools intervene in crises, its high false-positive rate, privacy violations, and uncertain long-term effectiveness fuel ethical debates about student privacy, safety, and mental health.