Facial recognition technology is advancing very quickly, making it very attractive to governments and companies, but it also causes some serious concerns.

That, from the province’s Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey.

He says the technology is very attractive and is already widely used on cell phones and other smart devices.

Despite that, the technology does still fail. He acknowledges that his iPhone does a “spooky” job recognizing his face despite light conditions, the technology, in broader applications, still generates false results.

Harvey says while cameras and facial recognition technology could have positive uses in a school system for security reasons, he cautions, it’s something we have to consider very carefully.

He says schools are the “next frontier for privacy” because of the vulnerability of children.

Some debate has already been had over the installation of cameras on school buses following some troubling incidents reported involving alleged assaults and sexual assaults. The Privacy Commissioner however advises caution.

Outside school buses is one issue, but inside school buses is something completely different says Harvey. He says issues related to children and consent is “super tricky” and we need to be careful when it comes to collecting information on them.