Schools: Biometric Technologies Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Schools: Biometric Technologies

Baroness Chakrabarti Excerpts
Monday 6th June 2022

(2 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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The noble Baroness is right. The department is working on the guidance and is aware that it needs updating. I am expecting it to be updated very soon. There will be some important changes within it, particularly in relation to the use of live facial recognition technology.

Baroness Chakrabarti Portrait Baroness Chakrabarti (Lab)
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My Lords, the Minister quite rightly spoke about data protection. Do the Government agree that this is not just about the individual’s data but about their dignity as well? Is this the way we should be softening up our young people for treatment by corporates coming out of China or anywhere else in the future?

Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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The Government are not softening up our children. The use of biometric data in schools requires explicit consent from both parents of a child, and the child themselves can overrule that, should they wish.