Video Surveillance in Schools and Student Privacy Rights

Video Surveillance in Schools and Student Privacy Rights During last few years the process of utilizing surveillance cameras in schools was active. In 2000, 20% of schools used security cameras, while by 2007 this number increased to 55%. This is due to the presence of violence in schools.

Parents naturally worry about their children, and using video surveillance in schools is a solution to this problem. Thus, video surveillance systems play a positive role, but it can also violate student privacy rights. Of course, the loss of privacy is inevitable, but because of the application of specific measures it can be minimized. Now we will talk about these protective measures.

Remember, that video surveillance policy of school should be clear. The school has to notify people that she utilizes surveillance cameras. For example, it has to place signs, which clearly state that the school use security cameras. It is very important. This knowledge will help you to avoid any legal repercussions because you will be more carefully.

Also school has to establish clear and enforceable processes for the handling of recorded video files. The school must maintain the ownership of recorded video.

As well it should properly manage and store video files. The unauthorized individuals should not have access to the stored video data; otherwise the unchecked privacy violations may occur. After the ending of a set period of time, the recorded data must be disposed of. It is not done only when the recorded video data contain the information necessary for the law enforcement investigation. In this case, the transferring of recorded video files must be done in the established legal order.

Usually the monitoring and managing of the recorded video are produced by outside security contractors. But the hiring of outside security contractors may cause further privacy violations. In fact, as video surveillance technology becomes more sophisticated, the school can handle it without the help of outside security contractors.

So the utilizing surveillance cameras in schools are necessary even though it has some risk of student privacy rights be violated. But if you pay attention to these protective measures, then your children privacy loss will be minimal.