Teachers and students in Sibiu do not want to be filmed at school. “It’s a serious violation of privacy,” the children say

At the beginning of the week, the Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, announced that according to a project, schools will be able to film students and teachers without their consent. When asked, several teachers and principals of high schools in Sibiu expressed their opinion regarding this proposal.

If until now surveillance cameras were installed in educational institutions only with the consent of teachers and parents, this aspect can be changed, according to a project presented on Monday by the Minister of Education through which schools will be able to film students and teachers without their consent.

The teachers and directors of several schools in Sibiu are reluctant about this change. The majority brought up the freedom of choice of teachers and students, personal data and the risks brought by AI (Artificial Intelligence).

“It is not normal because we are contradicting ourselves with personal data. You must also have freedom. We are followed on the street, we are followed at school, so where is the personal data? Any school can install surveillance cameras, but with the consent of teachers and parents. We as teachers want it in vain, because it helps us to prevent what happened in Galați from happening again, but maybe a hacker hacks the site and then my child sees it on I don’t know what sites. Many changes can be made with this artificial intelligence, why risk it? If we have character data security it’s ok, but until you have that security, are you introducing Big Brother to my school? If teachers and parents agree, there is no problem. I think it is a unanimous opinion”, said Prof. Gabriel Mărgineanu, leader of the SIP union.

“These are very sensitive things. In the Art High School we have surveillance cameras in the hallways, and we can only pick up the images with the consent of the police. It is very important that parents are consulted before the decision is made”, said the director of the Art High School, Mona Dăncăneț

The director of the Energy College says that he must first see the complete normative act in order to have a clear opinion. But, in principle, he does not agree with this change from a thousand points of view. “Let’s see how the project will materialize in the normative act. We are waiting to see exactly what it will contain. Monitoring with parental consent and parental consent depends on the freedom to be filmed, it is about personal data, the image of each teacher and parent. I believe that parental approval is needed. The project was launched to reduce cases of violence and bullying in schools. I do not know to what extent the project proposed by the minister will materialize. We will see what the concrete normative act will look like. We have to think about the image of the students and the consent of the parents. The situation regarding filming in classrooms is quite delicate. The problem is also the security of the cameras, this video system can be hacked. Until we see the normative act concretely, it is difficult to give our opinion. I hope that we will be given more details and on official lines, because I saw this project on the news”, said Sorin Volosciuc, director of the Energetic Technical College.

The answer of the Sibiu County School Inspectorate

IȘJ Sibiu is “in favor” of this project because it considers it necessary to increase safety in schools. “The proposal to install audio-video surveillance systems in schools without needing the consent of students, parents or teachers, represents yet another acceptable measure necessary to increase safety in the space of educational institutions. As long as these recordings will be used for the purpose mentioned by the text of the law, the measure will not harm anyone, but will strengthen the feeling of safety in the school”, said the spokesperson of the School County Inspectorate, Constantin Dincă.

Students: “A serious violation of individual rights and personal privacy”

The County Council of Students is of the opinion that this measure would be a serious violation of rights. “Both from my point of view and that of my colleagues, installing surveillance cameras in schools without the consent of students, teachers and principals is a serious violation of individual rights and personal privacy. It is especially important to recognize that this measure can affect the trust and mutual respect between students and teachers, creating a climate of excessive supervision and undue control. Students and school staff should have a say in decisions that directly affect their lives in the school environment. In addition, the installation of surveillance cameras could negatively affect the educational environment, creating a sense of insecurity and inhibiting free speech and open debate within the school. Instead of resorting to such invasive measures, dialogue and collaboration between all parties involved should be promoted to find solutions that constructively improve the school climate and protect the rights and dignity of every member of the school community,” said Darius Hampu, President of the County Council of Sibiu Students.