NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Signs Legislation Banning Facial Recognition Tech In Schools

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on Tuesday placing a temporary ban on facial recognition in school. 

The legislation places a moratorium on facial recognition and other biometric technology in public and private schools until at least July of 2022. It directs the state to conduct a study on whether it is appropriate for schools to use the technology.

“This legislation requires state education policymakers to take a step back, consult with experts and address privacy issues before determining whether any kind of biometric identifying technology can be brought into New York’s schools,” Cuomo said in a press release. “The safety and security of our children is vital to every parent, and whether to use this technology is not a decision to be made lightly.” 

There are concerns that the use of the technology may pose some risks to students. Some of those risks include a large percentage of misidentification of women, young people, and people of color. Privacy concerns have also been raised.

According to Forbes, a handful of cities have banned government use of facial recognition, including inside police departments. Still, New York is the first state to ban it in both public and private schools.