Orwell’s Classroom

• Schools increasingly turn to spyware, noise detectors, and other invasive mental health prediction tools, with predictably poor results. These error-prone systems flag non-existent crises and miss real dangers.

• Mental health surveillance alienates students, making it more likely that they will self-censor and isolating them from teachers and online mental health resources.

• Student spyware routinely outs LGBTQ+ students and puts BIPOC youth at risk of police encounters.

• New tech appears to be displacing evidence-based mental health screening.

This report was supported in part by grants from Borealis Philanthropy Disability Inclusion Fund and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

We extend a special thanks to Public Interest Privacy Center President Amelia Vance and an anonymous reviewer for their feedback.

Read the full report.