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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to refuse to allow school to take DSs fingerprints for new fingerprint technology?

130 replies

ChaoticEvil · 10/07/2019 10:35

DS1 & DS2 attend the same secondary school. Currently the school has a system of using key cards in order to get into the buildings and to buy lunch. They (I) pay an exorbitant fee when they lose the card, but they are easily replaced by filling in a form and the old cards blocked from being used. All fine.

The school wants to move to a fingerprint recognition system from September and plan to start taking all fingerprints over the last few weeks of this term. Apparently the actual fingerprint image won't be stored, but instead an algorithm based on unique points which have been taken from the image of the fingerprint.

I can't quite say why I am uncomfortable with this but I am.

AIBU to refuse to allow it? What would happen then?

Or assuming IABU can somehow help me allay my weird feeling about it!

OP posts:
boiseidaho · 10/07/2019 12:41

I'm 32 and my school introduced fingerprint scanning whilst I was in sixth form. Not saying that you're completely wrong to have any concerns, but the technology is pretty well established and it might just be better to get used to it now.

MrsDragonLady · 10/07/2019 12:41

I was undecided on if I would let DD have hers done. Then she came home from her transfer day yesterday and said they had already had them done, despite not having handed the form back in yet 🤔 so I guess that my “option” decided for me!

optimisticpessimist01 · 10/07/2019 12:43

All schools in my area use this system, there is absolutely no reason not to give it them. Plus all schools are super on top of their GDPR/security for the protection of all their children

Lindy2 · 10/07/2019 12:44

Really?
What's so special about your child's fingerprint that you think this is any kind of issue.
Are you expecting his fingerprints to be found at a crime scene and him to be arrested because of his high school print being on file? If you do you have bigger problems than the school lunch payment system.
Personally I think it's a great system.
Opt out if you wish but don't complain when he can't use the school canteen.

PCohle · 10/07/2019 12:50

Opt out if you wish but don't complain when he can't use the school canteen.

The OP absolutely should complain if that happens because it would be contrary to s.26(7) of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

Sparklingbrook · 10/07/2019 12:53

My DS's school have been doing this for years. IIRC it's just the thumb. I can't see a problem, plus it stops children getting beaten up for their dinner money. Grin

Bibijayne · 10/07/2019 12:56

I don't think YBU at all. I'd be a big no. Especially considering their track record on data protection.

Worth flagging with your local MP if the school insists on it.

Whosorrynow · 10/07/2019 12:58

I don't think anyone disputes how useful and convenient this system is but many people are very naive about the implications of biometric data being held

formerbabe · 10/07/2019 13:02

Well we all know how good public sector organisation are at protecting and looking after our data....

Lazypuppy · 10/07/2019 13:03

OP most smart phones have fingerprint tech to unlock it etc.

I see no issue

fatfluffycushion · 10/07/2019 13:03

We sign in at work using a biometric machine , some have a numbered code to put in as the machine can be awkward sometimes recognising thumb prints

SandAndSea · 10/07/2019 13:04

I wouldn't allow it either and I'm astonished at how quickly people agree to this sort of thing.

JacquesHammer · 10/07/2019 13:05

I wouldn't allow it either and I'm astonished at how quickly people agree to this sort of thing

We agreed following excellent information from the school. Hardly earth-shattering or indeed astonishing!

Whosorrynow · 10/07/2019 13:06

We all know how biometric data is being used in China don't we

Sparklingbrook · 10/07/2019 13:07

When half of our school burned down in the 80s all the pupils were fingerprinted by the police. Should I be worried about that? Shock

PCohle · 10/07/2019 13:09

If your password is hacked then you can change it. If your child's biometric data is compromised then this method of identification is insecure for the rest of your child's life.

SandAndSea · 10/07/2019 13:17

@JacquesHammer - Maybe not for you but I was speaking from my perspective. You not agreeing with me doesn't make me wrong.

RollOnSummerBreak · 10/07/2019 13:19

My ds school removed all cards and other payment methods. No biometrics. No lunch..

cakesandphotos · 10/07/2019 13:21

DH is the It manager for a company that does this. It's totally safe, as PP have said it's biometrics, not fingerprints. I would have absolutely no qualms using it

Rachelover40 · 10/07/2019 13:26

ChaoticEvil Wed 10-Jul-19 10:56:45
I don't know why I am uncomfortable. I suppose mainly because I don't trust them to keep the data safe, and possibly I don't know enough about fingerprint technology to be comfortable with it.
....

I would have the same misgivings.

MummytoCSJH · 10/07/2019 13:27

There are absolutely no risks of anything linked to your child that could be used elsewhere. YABU, and quite ridiculous. It's common around here. I imagine your child will be given a 4 or 6 pin as they are here if you say no but they will have to remember it and not give it out or others could easily spend their money.

MaMaMaMySharona · 10/07/2019 13:32

I used to work for a company which provided biometric payments for schools. There is absolutely no storage of fingerprints, as others have said it's just a recognition tool of certain points of a fingerprint.

I worked at this company around 10 years ago and it was reasonably new then but we did always have concerns from parents so I can completely understand it!

Do not worry at all though, it's far safer than using cards and avoids the issue of kids stealing money!

JacquesHammer · 10/07/2019 13:32

Maybe not for you but I was speaking from my perspective. You not agreeing with me doesn't make me wrong

I just can never understand people who are “astonished” that people do things a different way. I mean it’s hardly a massive surprise that people do things differently from you, surely?

ReanimatedSGB · 10/07/2019 13:42

They have it at my kid's school too. And I am not a huge fan, though I haven't refused to let him participate. There is something intrusive about the idea, and the UK authorities in general are a bit too keen on taking and retaining personal data for allegedly good reasons.
But I don't know that I'd resist it unless until they start doing things like 'We noticed you chose an unhealthy option at lunch time, we are sending you some dietary advice' or 'You didn't eat your vegetables today so your purchase of pudding has been cancelled'...

Gooseygoosey12345 · 10/07/2019 13:43

I'm nearly 30 and we had this in school. I don't see the problem. I highly doubt my prints are still on their records, and if they are I really don't mind.