Can Tech Protect US Schools from Mass Shootings?
2023-06-07
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1The many school shootings across the United States have led to demand from schools for advanced technology security systems.
2A little over one year ago, a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas.
3Days later, taser maker Axon Enterprise had an idea for how to prevent such attacks.
4It suggested schools use "non-lethal" drones that are powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
5Many people who work at the company disagreed with the idea.
6The company's own AI ethics board quit in protest.
7The event showed the growing unease about the ethics and effectiveness of security tools being marketed to American schools.
8Schools have been able to use nearly $200 billion in new COVID-19 relief money and other government funding to purchase such tools, said Odis Johnson Jr.
9He is director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools in Baltimore, Maryland.
10More schools have more money, he said. "And there's a robust tech sector pushing these technologies."
11Rita Bishop is the former head of the school system in Roanoke, Virginia.
12She said she had to stop taking calls from companies that sell things like AI-powered surveillance cameras and weapons detectors.
13For some experts and school safety officials, new tech-based tools are just one way to prevent school violence.
14Dave Fraser is head of Omnilert. The company developed an AI-powered tool that connects to school surveillance cameras to detect guns.
15Charles County Public Schools in Maryland decided to use Omnilert.
16Jason Stoddard is the school system's security director.
17He said he noticed that the shooters in Uvalde and in another attack had neared the school with their guns drawn.
18That played a part in the school system's decision to use Omnilert.
19Omnilert is one of a growing list of companies offering gun-detection technologies.
20ZeroEyes said its gun detection technology is used in schools and other places in over 30 states.
21Like Omnilert, it has human reviewers who check guns that its AI system detects.
22According to the Intercept news site, more than 65 school systems have bought or tested AI gun-detection tools since 2018.
23The schools spent a total of over $45 million on the technologies.
24There are serious questions, however, about the effectiveness of such tools, said Ken Trump.
25He is the president of National School Safety and Security Services, a school safety consulting group.
26He said schools have become testing grounds for "very underdeveloped AI software."
27He said schools have been increasingly drawn to tech solutions without taking simple measures.
28He said schools have not looked to measures like training teachers on how to respond to shootings, making structural improvements to buildings, and keeping doors locked.
29Surveillance tools might help quicken a school's response.
30But they are unlikely to prevent shooters, said Johnson Jr. of Johns Hopkins.
31He added that there is no research into the effectiveness of these AI technologies.
32There are also ethical concerns.
33"Kids need to be in schools that treat them like students, instead of suspects," said Johnson Jr.
34He and other experts worry that surveillance solutions to school violence create a hostile environment.
35He said it could be especially negative for Black students and students from other overpoliced communities.
36I'm Dan Novak.
1The many school shootings across the United States have led to demand from schools for advanced technology security systems. 2A little over one year ago, a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. Days later, taser maker Axon Enterprise had an idea for how to prevent such attacks. It suggested schools use "non-lethal" drones that are powered by artificial intelligence (AI). 3Many people who work at the company disagreed with the idea. The company's own AI ethics board quit in protest. The event showed the growing unease about the ethics and effectiveness of security tools being marketed to American schools. 4Schools have been able to use nearly $200 billion in new COVID-19 relief money and other government funding to purchase such tools, said Odis Johnson Jr. He is director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools in Baltimore, Maryland. 5More schools have more money, he said. "And there's a robust tech sector pushing these technologies." 6Rita Bishop is the former head of the school system in Roanoke, Virginia. She said she had to stop taking calls from companies that sell things like AI-powered surveillance cameras and weapons detectors. 7Gun-detection systems 8For some experts and school safety officials, new tech-based tools are just one way to prevent school violence. 9Dave Fraser is head of Omnilert. The company developed an AI-powered tool that connects to school surveillance cameras to detect guns. 10Charles County Public Schools in Maryland decided to use Omnilert. Jason Stoddard is the school system's security director. He said he noticed that the shooters in Uvalde and in another attack had neared the school with their guns drawn. That played a part in the school system's decision to use Omnilert. 11Omnilert is one of a growing list of companies offering gun-detection technologies. 12ZeroEyes said its gun detection technology is used in schools and other places in over 30 states. Like Omnilert, it has human reviewers who check guns that its AI system detects. 13According to the Intercept news site, more than 65 school systems have bought or tested AI gun-detection tools since 2018. The schools spent a total of over $45 million on the technologies. 14There are serious questions, however, about the effectiveness of such tools, said Ken Trump. He is the president of National School Safety and Security Services, a school safety consulting group. 15He said schools have become testing grounds for "very underdeveloped AI software." 16He said schools have been increasingly drawn to tech solutions without taking simple measures. He said schools have not looked to measures like training teachers on how to respond to shootings, making structural improvements to buildings, and keeping doors locked. 17Surveillance tools might help quicken a school's response. But they are unlikely to prevent shooters, said Johnson Jr. of Johns Hopkins. 18He added that there is no research into the effectiveness of these AI technologies. 19Classroom 'surveillance zone' 20There are also ethical concerns. 21"Kids need to be in schools that treat them like students, instead of suspects," said Johnson Jr. 22He and other experts worry that surveillance solutions to school violence create a hostile environment. He said it could be especially negative for Black students and students from other overpoliced communities. 23I'm Dan Novak. 24Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters. 25_______________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27advanced - adj. beyond the basic level 28taser - n. -used for a gun that fires electrified darts to immobilize a person 29lethal - adj. causing or able to cause death 30ethics - n. rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad 31relief - n. a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen 32robust - adj. strong and healthy 33detector - n. a device that can tell if a substance or object is present 34review - n. an act of carefully looking at or examining the quality or condition of something or someone 35consult - v. to go to for advice 36respond - n. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request