Sunday, April 19, 2015

Parents concerned about facial-recognition technology on EUSD iPads

From the Inbox:
I am not sure if you are aware that every kid in the school district grades 1-6 has an IPad.  [why, yes, yes we are aware of debt for iPads, leaving iPads unsecured even after burglaries at other local schools, and porn on iPads] It is mandatory and cost a fortune. That is troubling to some in itself. Kids don’t have books anymore and must use the IPad to do their work.

A few weeks ago the EUSD voted to buy Facial Recognition software for all the IPads for $63,000. Baird says it will save time logging in which is nonsense. First, it is a terrible waste of money that could be used much more wisely. Second, it is a huge invasion of privacy as facial recognition is like fingerprints and I don’t want my kid in that database. Third, it is the vanguard for much more invasive data collecting which is the real heart of the matter.

If you as a parent want to see what your kid is working on you cannot access the IPad. The program scans the face every 60 seconds and shuts down if little Johnny isn’t in front. This locks out the parent from the child’s lessons and that is criminally wrong.

Baird wants to be the first in the nation. No one wants this and we were not asked for permission or feedback. Attached is an article in Breitbart and the info on the software provider. We also have a petition circulating:

Change.org
There's a company promo video about the software at the petition link.

26 comments:

  1. Jack Booted Baird is at it again. He ignores the wishes of the parents and the general electorate, as he is convinced he is invincible. The lack of censure for his Copacabana luxury junkets under the guise of "work" is proof that he can do whatever he wants with the taxpayers' dime. I will never vote for another school funding initiative, as this is evidence of how it is spent.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This was written by someone who doesn't understand the technology.

    Security authentication systems identify you by what you know (passwords, favorite teacher, first pet), what you possess (credit card, RFID card, SecurID token), and who you are (fingerprint, face, voice, infrared pattern).

    The problem is, we can forget what we know (passwords), and and we can lose or have stolen what we posses (credit cards). The best security systems rely on who you are, because those methods are usually simple to use, and difficult to fool, especially when used in conjunction with other methods (called multifactor authentication). Example: the new Apple Pay system depends on what you possess (your phone), and who you are (fingerprint). Your fingerprint will not activate a payment in any other phone, and your phone cannot be used with someone else's fingerprint.

    There is no database. Facial recognition simply measures the relative distances between identifiable points on your face (eyes, nostrils, corners of your mouth, etc), and plugs them into an algorithm that creates a large number that is unlikely to be shared with anyone who might access your iPad. (Side note: kids faces grow and change. I would be surprised if kids don't get locked out and have to recalibrate from time to time). Your large number is encrypted and stored on the iPad, along with your passwords. When your face match is detected, the software enters your password for you. There is no need for the large number that represents your face to leave the iPad. In fact, some systems use the serial number of the iPad, or some other unique hardware ID as an input to the algorithm, so the large number is useless in any other hardware context. Even if the number goes to a "database," it would be a database of useless garbage.

    Facial recognition systems are not perfect. Faces change, and people have injuries that might change the location of points. These systems always allow bypass to enter your passwords directly. So parents cannot be locked out, unless EUSD decides not to share passwords with parents.

    My daughter has one of these iPads, and she has had to go back to school without her homework completed because she forgot a password (and there are several, for different apps and filters). Some of the passwords the kids do not set, the district does, and they picked secure passwords that are difficult to memorize. Biometric would help.

    If you want to worry about Big Brother, there are other programs to worry about. Here's one: http://m.caranddriver.com/features/screen-plate-club-how-license-plate-scanning-compromises-your-privacy-feature

    I understand the emotional response of the parent, but they should do some research before reacting on emotion. And by "research" I do not mean Googling "facial recognition big brother nightmare."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the board created this problem by setting up the learning experience to be not between teacher and student but between student, software and teacher. If the kids didn't use so many software programs to begin with, they wouldn't have to worry about remembering so many passwords. Rather than throwing good money after bad here, how about we hold the software companies and perhaps the board responsible for coming up with a FREE and non invasive way to use their products and follow a digital learning curriculum without it being a burden for the learning participants. Please people, can we just get back to the basics?! I bet if you asked your parents what they learned in elementary school, and compared it against our children's current curriculum, you would cry at how far away we have come from education.

      Delete
    2. If you were a teacher, would you like to know exactly where each kid is making mistakes on their homework? Would it be helpful to know not just who is getting the right answers, but who is getting there efficiently in the fewest steps and the least amount of time? Wouldn't it be good to graph progress on spelling accuracy over time for the class as a whole, and each individual student? Would you like to know at a glance which kids need most help on last night's homework? Would you appreciate data-driven tips on how to teach to the individual habits and strengths of each student? Would you find it useful to have predictive analytics to understand which kids are on track to meet end of year educational milestones?

      We are at the beginning of a revolution in teaching. Watch the movie Moneyball and apply the same analytic approach to learning. That works, and it cannot be done without technology. At some point, the abacus must be replaced by the calculator.

      Delete
    3. "I bet if you asked your parents what they learned in elementary school, and compared it against our children's current curriculum, you would cry at how far away we have come from education. "

      Wow. high standards.

      Delete
  3. Contract dated March 18, 2015 between EUSD and Virtual Keyring LLC under "Data Ownership" states, "Licensee owns the right to the data created by the licensee's users. This data may be used, stored, and analyzed."

    ReplyDelete
  4. "The facial recognition will not be mandatory, as students will still be able to log in through Virtual Keyring with a username and password, district officials said"

    It's worth discussing the pros and cons And asking questions, but Jen Hamler is spreading some false information (password screens will be eliminated and parents will be locked out).

    Sort of glad we didn't elect her if this is her M.O.

    ReplyDelete
  5. There is no database? Really? Common sense tells me there is data stored if the iPad can remember the biometric data on the student to log them in. And as with any technology, the opportunity for hacking is a possibility (iPhone 5 fingerprint ID security, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Chase, Sony, Target, Home Depot are recent examples). And do you want your child's biometric data hacked? There is no guarantee of security.
    While students can choose to log in with a username and password, I'm sure the "cool factor" of the facial recognition scans will be followed by peer pressure to comply with the group to use the biometric data log-in.

    Parents have not been informed on how they will be able to assist their children while on the iPads after this is implemented. Again, common sense tells us that if mom & dad haven't had their faces scanned into the system, the biometric software won't recognize them and will shut down. The district has not commented on how this will be addressed.

    This is a slippery-slope of getting our young children accustomed to having their identity scanned and won't think twice about having their car license plates scanned once they start driving...it will just be the way things are, what they've grown up with and it will seem normal to them to be under constant surveillance.

    And then there's the issue of spending taxpayer money on something that can be done for nothing. If our students are supposed to be 'critically thinking' and have 'rigorous' curriculum, I'd think remembering a password or two would fit the bill.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 9:43AM Propaganda Minister

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a mess! It was much better when the kids learned the old fashioned way from their teacher and actually studied and read books. The way it is today, the minute these kids get on a computer they instantly want to play games. If the kids are learning by themselves, cut the teacher's salary and send them home. What good are?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sorry....typo. I meant to say "what good are THEY?"

      Delete
    2. What good are they? Well for one thing they help keep kids away from technophobes and revisionst historians like you.

      Do you even have school age kids?

      Delete
  8. 9:43 is a 25 year consultant in IT systems with clients on five continents.

    Question: let's assume your kid's biometric signature gets stolen. What exactly do you think that signature looks like, and what value do you imagine it will have for a hacker?

    All technologies have the potential for risk and abuse. Many new technologies are viewed with suspicion. A very small number of people understand how the technology actually works, and the rest use their imagination to fill in gaps.

    When photography was new, there were many people who, lacking an understanding of how it worked, declared that photographs steal part of your soul.

    I would be more concerned with how kids are using photography today than the risk of using facial recognition software.

    By the way, if you have passed through London Heathrow in recent years with your child, their facial biometric signature is already in public sector databases that are probably shared with the U.S.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/new-facial-scanners-at-heathrow-to-check-the-identity-of-millions-6423978.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yeah, the average US citizen goes through London Heathrow allllll the time! Just because they do it there, EUSD should do it? You going to jump off a cliff with the rest of the lemmings?

      Delete
  9. I'm not sure if I'd quote Breitbart as a valued source, but you have it right in saying it's a waste of money. A standard login should be fine.

    And BTW, the poster above is right in noting that the UK has already implemented FR and are no doubt sharing the data with the U.S.

    -MGJ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Breitbart is the most factually correct news service today. Breitbart reports on, and holds accountable political leaders on all sides, and news services on all sides - regularly exposing lies, bias, untruths and misinformation-

      Delete
    2. Huh? Check with 9:43, who clearly has a background in IT and some of the emerging technologies. The big concern is the expense. Every news org has an inherent bias, every reporter has some inherent bias, but Breitbart was set up to give you a specific viewpoint, not report the facts.

      Delete
    3. MGJ, When you say "standard login," do you mean fragmented authentication, where each os, app, website, and network has it's own username and password for the kids to memorize, or do you mean Single Sign On (SSO), where authentication is established once, and the trusted user status is persistent through the session. (I know you are an IT guy who understands what SSO is. Describing for the benefit of others.)

      If you mean SSO, I agree with you. But Apple has not made SSO on iOS easy. In fact, it may end up being simpler and cheaper to add the biometric layer and an encrypted password wallet. If they could build an affordable SSO, that would be the ideal.

      My problem with biometric is practical: Camera-based biometric isn't very accurate. If they are sampling every minute as claimed, how frequently do you think kids will get signed out because of poor lighting, shadows, putting on or taking off glasses, eating, putting hands on face, turning sideways to the camera, thumbprint on lens, etc.?

      There are valid practical and financial reasons to question this, but emotion and fear of new technology is nuts.

      Delete
    4. SSO would be what I would use. Basically, I think it's a waste of money, we don't need to spend $ on biometrics for logging. I'm sure they can work around that. It's like Baird thinks he can be hero for being in the tech vanguard. I would be more impressed if he could stick to the budget.

      -MGJ

      Delete
  10. 8:15-

    Check with 9:43? 9:43 sounds like a business troll profiting by selling needless software and hardware to school districts. Why do you think Apple, Buffet and Microsoft support common-core- the dumbing down and control of American kids- becuase they profit. These corporations redistribute hard-earned tax dollars from residents to fund their profits while shaping and influencing education. Look at revisionist history, omission of facts, teaching half-truths and lies on so-called social justice issues.

    Why do you think it is the ruling class wants to do away with hard copy books?

    As for Breitbart- they report on the incompetency of John Boehner as much as they did Nancy Pelosi. They report on the hypocrisy of Lindsay Graham as much as they did Harry Reid. They report on the duplicity of John McCain and they do Barbara Feinstein-

    Breitbart was the first to report on the Muslim Jihadists intention for for an Islamic Caliphate in 2012- in the last few weeks the NY Times, CNN, and others are finally reporting the truth- 3 years too late

    Breitbart broke the news of hundreds of thousands illegal children, teenagers and men- (mostly males) being held in atrocious processing centers in Texas in 2014- the rest of the press tried to cover up - until they could not

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Breitbart was the first to report on the Muslim Jihadists intention for for an Islamic Caliphate in 2012- in the last few weeks the NY Times, CNN, and others are finally reporting the truth- 3 years too late....."

      This is hardly news that should be credited to Breitbart- anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of Islam and it's history would tell you that they've been looking for the next Caliphate for many centuries. They would also tell you how difficult it is to achieve one, and tougher still to hold on to one. If you really want to broaden your view of world events, you need to get your news from all sources - WSJ, NYT, Economist, Le Monde, Al Jazeera, India Times, etc., - don't let Breitbart do all the heavy lifting for you!

      - The Sculpin

      Delete
    2. Don't forget the Weekly World News. They broke the news on Batboy....

      Delete
  11. A friend sent me Breitbart today and they report 4 MSNBC anchors who regularly demonize americans as "not paying their fair share" in fact have failed pay their fair share. THE same 4 supported Occupy Wall street , we now learn they themselves are not paying taxes.

    Al Sharpton owes the IRS $ 3-4 million
    Melissa Harris owes $ 70, 000
    Toure Neblet owes $ 59, 0000
    Joanne Reid owes the state of NY $ 5,000

    These four "Anchors' demonize and belittle others with opposing views as 'Not paying their fair share" they promote class warfare, intolerance and the politics of divisiveness.

    At MSNBC it is do as I say not as I do-

    THey talk of climate change instructing the public how to live - while they jet about limos and private planes

    They talk of others needing to pay taxes - while they themselves don't.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1:07, you could have learned the same thing months ago from the NYT:

      http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/nyregion/questions-about-al-sharptons-finances-accompany-his-rise-in-influence.html?referrer=&_r=0

      Delete
    2. 2:00 pm

      wrong- the NY Times article was about Sharpton and his influence (speaking of which, why is Obama having a man who owes $ 3M in taxes to the White house while at the same time giving speeches about people not paying their fair share?)

      The Bretibart article was about the hypocrites as MSNBC- Led by Microsoft and NBC- having anchors who care so little about american families they don;t pay their taxes- while at the same time fostering hate and intolerance against those who do- MSNBC = equals a network of mind control and propaganda disguised as news-

      Delete