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WF-3XBQHG

UK schools install toilet sensors that listen for keywords to monitor pupils

Several UK schools, including St Joseph's College in Stoke-on-Trent, have installed Halo Smart Sensors in toilets that use machine learning to detect keywords such as 'help me' and 'stop it'. The sensors trigger alerts to staff when keywords are detected, aiming to crack down on vaping and bullying. Privacy advocates argue the sensors violate children's privacy and may be unlawful. The schools have not sought parental consent for the monitoring.

Date it happened
2023-09-01
Organisation involved
St Joseph's College
Product, system or model
Halo Smart Sensors
Where this came from
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Attribution

This incident was imported from schoolsweek.co.uk. Our additions to it — the structured fields, the translation, the checks against other reports — are published under the same licence.

This is a record of what was reported, not a finding that anyone broke the law. If it names your organisation and you believe it is wrong, the corrections process is free and open to everyone.

UK schools install toilet sensors that listen for keywords to monitor pupils — Wayward Fowl