Biometric finger printing

[CuriousMama]

Does your dc's school do this? I only found out this morning that ds2 (yr7) does this to get his lunch. I didn't sign anything to agree to it. DS1 is yr 10 and refuses to do it but I imagine he'll get encouraged forced to do it? He doesn't get library books out and takes in his lunch so hasn't been made to yet.

In theory I think it's a good idea as dcs can put cash into the system and they don't have to take it in all week. And getting library books etc. out is quick. But it does smack of big brother.

Poor ds2 this morning. I gave him £5 yesterday. He only buys a wrap for £1.30 as he takes juice and snacks in. He asked me for some cash this morning and I said he should have money left? He said it doesn't give him change. I said what doesn't give him change? It sounded so futuristic. I went off it as can't afford to lose that sort of cash. Not off it with ds2 but the school. Then ds1 told me it holds the cash and he just has to put his fingerprint on it to get food. Then we top up the amount.

My worry is that schools are inadequate at protecting pupils' personal data - if you look at the full document - you will see a very worrying level of both ignorance and complacentcy in schools. It's a major data loss waiting to happen, especially as very sensitive issues are recorded. Adding more data to systems where the risks are poorly understood by users is a bad idea.

Thinking "but this bit is innocuous" is part of the complacency, and underestimates the value of their ID (and how to verify biometrically between RL and online) which will be a much bigger issue for our DCs than for us.

The Protection of Freedoms Act will make it illegal to use a child's fingerprint without parental consent come this time next year. So, can you trust a school which is using this system without consent knowing that it will be a criminal activity soon?