Zurich data protection officer criticizes student monitoring via bracelet
Published: Wednesday, Jun 5th 2024, 12:00
Volver a Live Feed
A pilot project with tracking bracelets for schoolchildren will be launched in the Zurich municipality of Birmensdorf on June 10. Cantonal data protection officer Dominika Blonski criticized the plans on Wednesday as "disproportionate".
"Tracking is probably not absolutely necessary," Blonski told the media in Zurich. There are certainly other ways to supervise children. She therefore described the use of tracking bracelets in schools as "not proportionate."
Despite criticism, the school in Birmensdorf will start the trial on June 10. The first to be equipped with a Bluetooth wristband will be the 3rd and 4th grade after-school children. After the summer vacations, the trial will be extended to all classes. The school will decide on the definitive introduction in the fall.
Parents were informed about the project by letter a few days ago. Those parents or children who do not wish to take part in the trial must actively opt out.
Finding children on the school grounds
The Bluetooth wristbands are intended to make it easier for childcare staff to find their increasing number of protégés on the school grounds. They should also inform staff if a child leaves the school grounds without permission. Personal details such as food allergies are also stored on them.
The wristbands and the technology behind them come from the daycare center manager himself. He founded a company for child monitoring via Bluethooth and is now allowed to test the system in his own after-school care center. The school pays nothing for the project.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic