A group of educationists, civil society organisations, parents’ associations and digital rights experts have urged chief minister Siddaramaiah to withdraw the state government’s plan to introduce a facial recognition system (FRS) in government and aided schools from the 2025-26 academic year.

In a joint statement addressed to the CM on Monday, the signatories expressed “deep concern” over the Department of School Education and Literacy’s decision to make AI-driven mobile-based facial recognition attendance mandatory and link it to the Students Achievement Tracking System (SATS).

The statement warned that such technology could expose children and teachers to grave risks of data leaks, misuse, image morphing, sextortion, and child trafficking. Citing global research and recent cases of misuse of surveillance data in India, the group argued that routinely photographing children in classrooms—considered “protected spaces”—could make them vulnerable to exploitation and blackmail.

Quoting the UN Special Rapporteur for the Right to Education, who has recommended a ban on FRS in educational institutions worldwide, the statement noted that even China has planned to restrict the use of facial recognition in schools.

The signatories also stressed that accountability in schools is better achieved through strengthening School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) rather than deploying intrusive technologies. They called on the government to explore healthier alternatives, pilot-test any digital innovations, and ensure the use of free and open-source software instead of vendor-locked proprietary systems.

The statement has been endorsed by several prominent organisations and individuals, including the People’s Alliance for Fundamental Right to Education (PAFRE), RTE Forum, Karnataka Association of Private Educational Institutions, educationists from Delhi University, JNU, NLSIU and TISS, as well as public health experts and child rights groups.

The appeal concludes with a demand for the Karnataka government to immediately rescind the FRS decision and frame a policy banning the use of facial recognition technologies in schools. 

Some of the signatories include child rights activist and NLSUI faculty Biranjanaradhya VP, Gurumurthy Kasinathan, EdTech India, Lokesh T, representative of private schools managements and Brinda Adige of the Ananya Mallaka Okkuta. 

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