Students sue school district over AI surveillance of emails and messages

A group of current and former students has filed a federal lawsuit against Lawrence Public Schools, claiming that the district's use of an AI surveillance system infringes on student privacy rights. The AI tool, known as Gaggle, monitors communications across the district's Google Workspace—including Gmail and Drive—flagging content related to self-harm, depression, substance abuse, and violence. However, the lawsuit asserts that Gaggle also improperly censors harmless phrases such as "called me a," "very uncomfortable," and references to mental health. The legal action further alleges that the system was used to monitor student journalism drafts, resulting in the interception of articles before publication, disappearance of mental health emails to trusted teachers, and unwarranted seizure of original artwork from student accounts. The students' attorney, Harrison M. Rosenthal, emphasized the intrusion into their private communications. This case raises concerns about the implications of AI-based surveillance in educational settings, especially if courts uphold the school's use of such technology. A ruling in favor of the district could set a precedent for other public schools an...