The New York Civil Liberties Union wants New York State Education Department to block Lockport School District from installing new facial recognition camera technology in all of its schools.

Last month Superintendent Michelle Bradley told 7 Eyewitness News that the district is installing 300 new security cameras loaded with the new high tech software. The software recognizes people with guns, terminate employees, sex offenders, and suspended students. The software alerts school officials after the individual being on campus. Lockport School District is using money from the New York Smart School Bond Act of 2014 to pay for the installation.

“It will add another layer of security to what we already have,” Bradley said.

But NYCLU calls the software invasive and inaccurate. In a letter, NYCLU is asking NYSED to review its decision to approve the funds. The group also filed a Freedom of Information Law request to the district for details on how and where the software will be used. Also, NYCLU wants to know who will have access to the sensitive data.

“Lockport is sending the message that it views students as potential criminals who must have their faces scanned wherever they go. This will have a chilling effect on school climate throughout the district and sow distrust between students and school officials.” said Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the NYCLU said.

The group believes the software is inaccurate when it comes to race and gender and it could misidentify and cause young people to be punished for things they did not do. The group also fears a third party could gain access to the information and potentially put children at danger.

Lockport School Superintendent Michelle Bradley released this statement to 7 Eyewitness News Reporter Justin Moore late this afternoon: