Nanjing University Faces Backlash Over AI System Tracking Student Attentiveness

Nanjing University is facing controversy after leaked screenshots revealed its upgraded 'smart classroom' system tracks not only attendance and late arrivals but also a 'head-up rate' to gauge student attentiveness.

Assembled News DeskNovember 8, 20261 min read

AI illustration based on reference photographs; not an event photograph. An editorial illustration depicting abstract digital monitoring lines over empty rows of wooden desks in a classroom setting, symbolizing AI surveillance. — AI-generated illustration

According to reports from the South China Morning Post, students at Nanjing University were informed that the university planned to start utilizing its 'smart classroom' system, which underwent upgrades during the summer, to log complete attendance rates over a span of one week.

Outcry emerged following the circulation of leaked screenshots that allegedly demonstrated the AI-powered software in operation. This software reportedly combined live classroom footage with real-time data to monitor late arrivals, record attendance figures, and calculate a 'head-up rate' intended to map student attentiveness. The images that circulated sparked considerable discussion regarding the ethical concerns surrounding algorithmic surveillance, the scope of artificial intelligence (AI) monitoring, and student privacy rights on campus.

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