Use of AI Technology for School Security is Worrisome
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
I was concerned to read the article by Rick Pezzullo titled “White Plains School District Using AI Technology for Security,” (May 23-29).
I called a district official who reassured me that video cameras are commonplace in most public areas. So, implicitly, why not in public schools?
I was not aware that video cameras are used to scan our schoolchildren in the halls of our schools. The official stated that this particular use of video security would be “merely used” to detect the presence of firearms in schoolbags or backpacks. Apparently, the robotic AI would be capable of discerning firearms – even though the youngster might be carrying a flute, a soprano recorder, a drumstick or some such item.
I have questions about the use of such technology to detect firearms. What are the odds of firearms being brought into the schools? If we are so concerned about dangerous firearms being brought into our schools, shouldn’t we be using persons trained in doing such security work? It seems that humans, presumably, have the necessary judgment needed for firearms screening rather than the use of AI security.
More critical is this question: What if the AI scanner spots some alleged contraband and a youth is falsely accused, brought to the principal’s office and identified as a suspect? What if the “suspicious” youth has a mild emotional problem? Or, what if the “suspected” youngster is considered normal and well-adjusted? In such scenarios, we would be subjecting our youth to being scanned and evaluated by a robot whose faulty conclusions could be embarrassing, shaming and stigmatizing – or worse.
I appreciate Mr. Pezzullo’s article. I would ask him if he could do some more research on this topic, which needs further exploration. Perhaps he could interview school board members here in White Plains and compare the use of video scanning and whether other schools are using that technology in school hallways, gyms or lunchrooms elsewhere in Westchester County.
Thank you so much.
Jane Bloomer
White Plains
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