---
title: "Surprise Move: China to Curb Use of Facial Recognition in Schools"
description: "China plans to \"curb and regulate\" the use of facial recognition technology in its schools, according to officials from the Ministry of Education."
date: "2019-09-06"
modified: "2019-09-06"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-curb-facial-recognition-schools"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
  - "Facial recognition"
tags:
  - "china"
  - "education"
  - "facial recognition"
  - "the digest"
---

# Surprise Move: China to Curb Use of Facial Recognition in Schools

![China plans to "curb and regulate" the use of facial recognition technology in its schools, according to officials from the Ministry of Education.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/china-curb-facial-recognition-schools.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Strange Development

China plans to "curb and regulate" the use of facial recognition tech in its schools — a surprisingly pro-privacy move for a nation known for its [invasive surveillance](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/godfather-deep-learning-china-1984-big-brother>) of citizens.

"We need to be very careful when it comes to students' personal information," Lei Chaozi, director of science and technology at China's Ministry of Education, [told Shanghai-based media outlet *The Paper*](<https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_4343255>) on Thursday. "Don't collect it if it's not necessary. And try to collect as little as possible if we have to."

## Pilot Project

China's decision to rein in facial recognition tech comes just days after citizens [railed against](<https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/1909041394/>) a pilot project at China Pharmaceutical University (CPU), which used a facial recognition system to monitor students' attendance and behavior.

CPU's project raises concerns about both data security and personal privacy, Lei Chaozi told *The Paper*, later noting that "the Ministry of Education has begun to pay attention to this matter and organize expert argumentation research."

**READ MORE:** [China to curb facial recognition and apps in schools](<https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49608459>) \[*BBC News*\]

**More on Chinese surveillance:** *[Godfather of Deep Learning: China’s AI Tech Is "1984 Big Brother"](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/godfather-deep-learning-china-1984-big-brother>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)