Schools criticized for live-streaming students

A screenshot from the live streaming platform "Shuidi" shows live views of Kindergarten students napping.

A number of schools across China have come under the spotlight for live-streaming during school hours.

The videos are available for anyone to watch on live-streaming site "Shuidi," ThePaper.cn reports.

A student at one of the schools in question argues the move is a violation of their privacy, according to the ThePaper.cn.

However, some parents told ThePaper.cn they support the live-streaming services, as it will allow them to keep tabs on their children at school. But others say they're concerned about the videos being made available to the general public.

A teacher from Jinan NO.26 Middle School in east China's Shandong province was surprised to hear that the videos are available to the public, thinking on that teachers in the school could access the videos, ThePaper.cn reports.

The teacher said it was the local education department who established the live streaming system.

Another teacher from Shunwen Middle school in Shandong said teachers were not aware that the public could gain access to the videos, and suggested that the settings be changed to private access only.

The teacher does admit that one month after the surveillance cameras were installed, student misbehaviour in the classroom has decreased significantly.

Zhou Ming, a Shanghai-based attorney, says a case could be made that the live-streaming constitutes a violation of student privacy.

ThePaper.cn quotes experts as arguing that keeping students under surveillance may result in mental health problems.