United StatesEducation2020Lockport City School District
Aegis facial recognition for school security
Lockport stopped school facial recognition under a state moratorium, followed by a statewide ban
Problem
Lockport wanted security officers to respond quickly when people considered threats appeared on school premises. Its Aegis system also detected certain weapons.
Approach
The district activated facial recognition in January 2020 after meeting state conditions, including excluding students from the threat database. It stopped using the system later that year under a state moratorium. In September 2023, New York prohibited school facial recognition after a state review identified privacy, civil rights and accuracy risks. Lockport's superintendent said the district would follow the determination and had no plans to use the system.
Results
No published figures
Takeaway
The district's initial state approval and exclusion of students from its threat database did not secure lasting permission to operate the system.
Categories
- Industry
- Education
- Business function
- Production and quality
- Innovation type
- Process innovation
- AI technology
- Computer vision
- Adoption
- Vendor solution
- Goal
- Quality and risk
- Evidence
- Regulator, audit or court
Sources
Source summaries
The department announced the commissioner's order prohibiting schools from purchasing or using facial recognition technology. The determination followed the review required by state law.
AP reported Lockport's January 2020 activation and shutdown later that year. It explained the security purpose and the state review's concerns.
The report identified the Aegis system and described the moratorium. It quoted the superintendent confirming that the district was not using facial recognition and would comply with the ban.
Full details are in the original sources.
