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3d ago

Microsoft Teams Biometric Data Collection in NSW Schools Sparks Privacy Concerns

The NSW Department of Education disabled a default Teams feature that collected students' voice and facial data for weeks without prior awareness, prompting calls for transparency and stronger data protections.

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Overview

  • Microsoft Teams' voice and face enrolment feature, enabled by default in March 2025, collected biometric data from NSW public school students for weeks.
  • The NSW Department of Education was unaware of the feature until early April, when it was deactivated and all collected profiles were deleted.
  • The department has not disclosed how many students or staff were affected or whether individuals were informed about the data collection.
  • Shadow education minister Sarah Mitchell called the incident a breach of privacy and urged for an official investigation and notification of affected families.
  • Experts and advocates highlight the risks of excessive data collection and call for stronger regulatory safeguards for children's digital privacy.