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Nanjing University Stops Attention Tracking in AI Smart Classroom After Privacy Backlash

November 3, 2026 at 23:08 EST

Education
Policy & Regulation

Nanjing University has stopped tracking students' attention in its AI-powered "smart classroom" system after screenshots of attendance and attention-monitoring data circulated online and ignited a privacy debate, the university said on Wednesday.

Wednesday · Nanjing University

Nanjing University halts attention tracking in its AI smart classroom

After attendance and attention-monitoring records circulated online, the university confirmed it has discontinued the attention-tracking function, as a broader debate over consent and limits on classroom monitoring takes shape.

How the story unfolded

Step 1

Records surface

Attendance and attention-tracking images spread online.

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Step 2

Privacy debate

Questions on how much data was collected and how it was used.

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Step 3

Feature discontinued

The university confirmed the attention-tracking function has stopped.

The case for monitoring

Helps teachers spot when students are losing focus
Can support better teaching decisions

The critical concerns

Continuous monitoring raises serious privacy risks
Students often have limited ability to refuse
A sense of being watched may undermine learning

Key open questions

The scope of the issue remains unclear until the details are laid out.

Data

What was stored and for how long

Access

Who could see the records

Existing data

How the university will handle what it already holds

Policy

Whether a fuller explanation will be published

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