Brighton & Hove schools fingerprinting kids

3.39.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th Jun 2007

At least four schools in Brighton & Hove are taking and storing data derived from biometrics from pupils, some as young as primary age.

The method sees fingerprints scanned and converted into a unique algorithm. The collection of biometric data in schools is usually for relatively trivial admin purposes like the school library, pupil registration or sometimes cashless lunchrooms. But this information can then be used to record and track a pupils eating or reading habits.

While the police may take fingerprints from a juvenile who has been arrested without parental consent, the DfES has issued no guidance to schools about whether consent is needed to collect biometric data of young people who have not committed an offence/are not suspected of having committed an offence.

A Freedom of Information request by the www.leavethemkidsalone.com website found that:

"At least four primary schools use a library system which identifies pupils via their thumbprint... Some schools have been using this for three years."

P.J. O'Neill, Freedom of Information Team, 17 April 2007

Liberal Democrats believe parental consent should be required before schools collect biometric data.

Brighton & Hove Lib Dem Councillor Paul Elgood said:

"This is a really worrying issue. I think many people will not be aware that this is going on within our schools.

"There is the thorny ethical issue of how and whether schools should be gaining parental consent before taking pupils' prints, which I believe they should. There are also really serious security issues that need to be resolved. We also need to know what guidance does the local authority issue in terms of collection, use and storage of such data.

"Experts say that advances in data encryption technology mean it is simply impossible to claim with any authority that data like this will remain secure in years to come. You have to remember that if an identity thief gets hold of your bank details, you can close your account or change the PIN number. If identity thieves get hold of a child's biometric data that person's identity is compromised for life.

"Collecting and storing this kind of data poses such enormous risks for such little benefit I can't believe it's worth it. A teacher can take registration with an old fashioned pen and paper just as efficiently with no risks at all!"