Kids Learning Under Surveillance: The Human Rights Cost Of AI In Schools

"When COVID-19 forced schools to close in 2020, educators and parents rushed to adopt digital/EdTech platforms to keep students learning from home. In the years since, researchers and privacy advocates have uncovered the troubling reality that many educational technology companies have been collecting far more student data than necessary, tracking children's behaviour, building detailed profiles, and in some cases selling information to third parties."

"AI can support the right to education, recognized in international law and embodied in instruments such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. When designed thoughtfully, AI systems can tailor instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners, help students with disabilities access adaptive content, and assist teachers in identifying learning gaps early."

School closures during COVID-19 accelerated adoption of digital EdTech platforms, leading to widespread collection of student data, behavioural tracking, profiling, and in some cases data sales to third parties. Rapid AI integration in classrooms has redirected public resources toward AI initiatives and framed AI as essential preparation for students' futures. Deployment of AI systems often lacks adequate safeguards, exposing children and marginalized learners to rights violations. Thoughtfully designed AI can advance the right to education by tailoring instruction, supporting students with disabilities, and helping teachers identify learning gaps. Learner-centered AI can provide targeted support to struggling students and reduce dropout rates.

Read at eLearning Industry