The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and weak enforcement of data protection law are failing to protect millions of children from the normalisation of routine use of biometric data for everyday canteen and library transactions, and increasingly intrusive bodily surveillance in the classroom. Pupils in the UK are effectively guinea pigs in the use of emerging technology for companies from around the world, including facial recognition technology that has already been banned from schools in other countries.

Dear North Ayrshire Council, Please provide me with a copy of your DPIA in relation to the processing of biometric data (facial recognition) for the purpose of uniquely identifying children with regards to your recent email informing parents of new processing in relation to cashless catering. Yours faithfully, Katie Brewar

Ibrahim Hasan looks at the significant issues raised by the use of facial recognition in schools.

Schools using facial recognition systems should consider less intrusive ways to let pupils pay for meals, the UK's data privacy watchdog has said.

The use of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) is likely to be one of the key areas where new technology clashes with data protection rights. On the one hand, FRT has a wide range of potential use and users, from law enforcement agencies and civil enforcement bodies, to even – according to a recent Financial Times report – schools providing lunches to pupils.

In tests, it detected black faces less than half the time