Privacy International claims that the electronic fingerprinting
is being conducted as part of a cost cutting “automation” of school
libraries, and that at least 350 schools have installed the system,
including Kenton School, Queens Park County Primary School and St.
Annes (Stanley) CE School.
According to the report, which characterises the technology as
“similar to the identification systems used in US prisons and for
the German military”, children are required to place a thumb onto
an electronic scanner. The identity of the print is then stored in
a computer. Whenever the finger is scanned, the computer picks up
the unique number and opens the pupil’s account.
The privacy group received a complaint from a mother whose child
had been fingerprinted at Sacred Heart School in London without her
consent. The Data Protection Act provides for the right to object
to such actions – and following the mother’s exercise of this
right, her son’s fingerprints have been removed from the school’s
library computer system.
Privacy International also criticised the UK’s Information
Commission’s compliance officer, who argued that fingerprinting
“aids compliance with the Data Protection Act.” The group has
lodged a request under the open government code for the release of
all correspondence between the Commissioner’s office and technology
vendors marketing fingerprinting equipment.
In the report, the group warns that the practice of
fingerprinting for the purpose of library cards is in violation of
the Human Rights Act and the Data Protection Act. A spokesman for
Privacy International said: “The law states that privacy invasion
must be proportionate to the threat. A few lost library cards do
not warrant mass finger printing.”
