Colorado has taken a significant step in the use of facial recognition technology by approving its deployment solely for school security and safety purposes. This decision comes as part of Senate Bill 25-143 (SB25-143), which was passed by the Colorado General Assembly on April 4 and now awaits the signature of Governor Jared Polis.
Since 2022, a moratorium has been in place restricting the use of new facial recognition technologies in the state. SB25-143, however, lifts this restriction for public schools, allowing specific applications approved by local school boards. The legislation preserves limitations for all other government uses of the technology, which will now be extended beyond the previously set expiration date of July 1.
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What SB25-143 Allows
The law enables schools to use facial recognition technology for narrowly defined safety and security purposes, which include:
- Alerting staff to individuals who have threatened violence against the school.
- Quickly locating missing children on school grounds.
- Identifying and preventing entry for individuals barred by court orders or district determinations.
The bill has gained significant support from educators and security professionals due to the proven safety benefits the technology offers, according to a press release from the Security Industry Association (SIA). For example, testimony from school district representatives highlighted a scenario where facial recognition helped locate a special needs child who wandered toward a busy highway, allowing staff to intervene in time to ensure the child’s safety.
Bill Addresses Transparency and Concerns about Facial Recognition
Lawmakers worked closely with school administrators, the SIA, and other stakeholders throughout the legislative process to address privacy concerns and ethical considerations. Amendments were added to ensure that biometric data created by the system would be deleted within 18 months and to clarify that the technology’s security features could remain continuously operational for approved purposes.
Jake Parker, Senior Director of Government Relations at SIA, praised the bill for recognizing the importance of leveraging advanced technologies to strengthen school security.
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“We commend the bill sponsors for ensuring schools can responsibly use facial recognition technology to protect students, teachers, and staff while adhering to best practices and existing privacy laws,” he stated.
Notably, Colorado remains the only state in the U.S. to impose statutory restrictions specific to the use of facial recognition in schools while simultaneously providing carve-outs for safety-oriented applications.
Balancing Safety and Privacy in Modern Schools
The debate over facial recognition technology continues to raise questions about its balance of utility and ethics. Advocacy organizations, such as the ACLU, and other groups have voiced concerns over the potential misuse of the technology and its broader implications for student privacy.
Proponents of SB25-143 argue that its carefully defined framework and transparency requirements provide an ethical and effective model for using facial recognition in schools.
