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(1) Facial recognition used to take payments from schoolchildren.
Facial recognition is introduced in nine North Ayrshire schools to speed up lunch queues and avoid covid-19 risks. This type of system its being claimed that is the fastest method for identification as the average time per student is around five seconds. It can be an asset to schools as during the period and average of 1000 students are being served. However, parents and campaigners have raised concerns about biometric surveillance, noting that students haven’t been adequately informed about privacy risks.A key concern is that this technology can lead to potential unnecessary arrest since people are being exposed in crowds. Metropolitan Police found that the system is 81% inaccurate, yet despite these calls, there isn’t any regulations to sustain and providing guidelines also the Department of Education does not oversee this system.
Even with these concerns, 97% of students or parents have consented to facial recognition for lunch payments. These type of technology was already been introduced in the UK during the 2015 trial by Leicestershire Police at the Download Festival to manage entry queues and nowadays its used in Airports and the Notting Hill Carnival for crowd identification.
Facial recognition used to take payments from schoolchildren.
Nine schools in North Ayrshire have introduced facial recognition technology to reduce COVID-19 transmission risks and speed up lunch queues. David Swanston, Managing Director of CRB Cunninghams, the company providing the system, claims it’s the fastest method for identifying students at the till, with an average transaction time of five seconds per student. He noted the high demand for quick processing, as some schools serve up to 1,000 students within a 25-minute period. However, parents and campaigners have raised concerns about exposing students to biometric surveillance, arguing that students haven’t been adequately informed about potential privacy risks.Campaigners are raising concerns that the type of technology exposes people in crowds to potential arrest without reasonable cause. Despite their calls for regulation, no legislation has yet been introduced to treat this technology on an equal statutory footing with other biometrics like fingerprints and DNA. An independent study commissioned by the Metropolitan Police found that the system is 81% inaccurate. Silkie Carlo, the head of Big Brother Watch, stated that It’s normalising biometric identity check for something that is ordinary. You don’t need to resort to airport-style technology for children getting their lunch.
Despite these concerns, 97% of students or parents have consented to facial recognition for lunch payments. The Department for Education does not oversee the use of this technology in schools. In contrast, New York has temporarily banned facial recognition in schools due to similar concerns. Fraser Sampson, Biometrics Commissioner for England and Wales, noted that a less intrusive payment method should be used if possible. Facial recognition has been used previously in the UK, including a 2015 trial by Leicestershire Police at the Download Festival to manage entry queues. Today, it’s used in settings like airport eGates and Notting Hill Carnival, where crowd identification is needed.
My Opinion
In today’s world, where we rely heavily on technology, I believe it’s essential to take a step back and reflect on whether we truly need this level of assistance. While technology can be beneficial, it is not always accurate. Over time, it seems we are losing one of our greatest assets: the human mindset. Technology is helpful in improving our own content, but relying solely on AI to create content will likely not reached the results we hope for.Request for Rescheduling Session
Dear Polina,
I hope this message finds you well.
Following the new-date proposal, it appears that most students are unable to attend the scheduled session. Therefore, we kindly request a rescheduled date, ideally sometime after November 9th. Could you please guide us on the next steps to facilitate this change?
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Best regards,
Pedal Power: Ride to Generate
Sadly, my hometown, Ħamrun, despite the improvements made over the years, still lacks open spaces for residents to use during the weekend. Most residents need some form of transport to travel elsewhere in order to enjoy a quiet Sunday afternoon.
As the chairperson and founder of FC Ħamrun Amateurs (VO/2365), a thought is being discussed within our Voluntary Sporting Organisation is to introduce the concept of e-Bikes at our piazzas to promote sports and green energy.
Integrating e-Bikes at our piazzas can have multiple benefits for our local community. There are four (4) key aspects in which e-Bikes at our piazzas can contribute;
(1) Sustainably & Clean Energy – Improving our piazza facilities, while preserving the historical monuments, can serve as a tool to encourage residents to visit these areas on the weekends rather than travel elsewhere. This can help reduce the carbon footprint, as it eliminates the need for fossil-fuel-based transportation. Introducing e-Bikes that generate clean energy while in use can be an added feature, allowing people to charge their smart devices, such as phones, tablets, and laptops. The remaining energy produced can be stored and used to light up the piazza at night.
(2) Promotion of Slow Mobility – By encouraging a cycling culture, eBikes can inspire residents to move at a slower pace, allowing them to enjoy their piazza surroundings while generating energy. This supports Cittaslow’s emphasis on reducing fossil fuel-based transportation and promoting quieter, healthier activities.
(3) Community Empowerment – The concept of generating electricity while cycling can serve as a education tool for all residents especially the younger generation in order to promote the awareness about sustainable practices. Also to give the chance to being involved in this innovate project and being hands-on to contribute to energy production.
(4) Supporting the Local Economy – By empowering the community to use these e-Bikes, we can introduce a feature that allows each resident to create a personal login account. This way, residents can log their workout sessions each time they use the e-Bikes. Residents will be able to see how many kilometres they’ve covered during the month and how much they’ve contributed to the community. A fun competition could be organised and hosted by the Ħamrun Local Council, where the top 5 residents with the most kilometres covered each month can win vouchers to enjoy a fresh, traditional meal at one of our local restaurants thus promoting the slow-food movement.
Integrating e-Bikes into the piazzas of Ħamrun represents a unique opportunity to foster a sustainable and vibrant community. By promoting clean energy, encouraging a culture of slow mobility, and empowering residents through engagement in this innovative project, we can enhance our local environment while preserving the rich heritage of our town.
