Human Rights Commission Puts Brakes on Indiscriminate Collection of Phones at School Violence Committee

While Recognizing the Need for Confidentiality, "Collecting Phones Is Excessive"
Education Office: "To Be Improved with Security Pledge for Those Who Do Not Consent"

The practice of collecting the mobile phones of those attending the School Violence Countermeasures Deliberation Committee (commonly known as the School Violence Committee) has come under scrutiny. While the purpose of preventing the leakage of meeting content is recognized, the indiscriminate collection of mobile phones may excessively restrict basic rights.

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea recently recommended to a regional education office that it establish guidelines to minimize the infringement of basic rights when collecting the phones of School Violence Committee attendees. On July 21, the commission announced that the education office had accepted this recommendation.

Photo of collected mobile phones. The Asia Business Daily DB

Going forward, the education office will verbally and in writing inform participants about the principle that School Violence Committee meetings are confidential, and will provide detailed explanations regarding the methods and procedures for collecting mobile phones. In addition, if an attendee does not consent to handing over their phone, they will be permitted to enter the meeting room after signing a security pledge. The education office said it will improve its policies to minimize infringement on basic rights.

The petitioner filed a complaint after being required to submit their mobile phone without adequate explanation or consent before entering the deliberation room with their child in November 2024 for a School Violence Committee session. The petitioner argued that it was unfair for the deliberation subjects to have their phones collected, while committee members were allowed to keep their phones during the meeting. At the time, the education office explained this was an unavoidable measure to prevent the external leakage of meeting content through recording or filming, in accordance with the Act on the Prevention of and Countermeasures Against Violence in Schools, as the proceedings were confidential. The office added that committee members, unlike general attendees, sign security pledges when appointed and are subject to penalties for information leaks.

A representative from the Human Rights Commission stated, "Since sensitive information regarding students and related persons is exchanged during the School Violence Committee deliberation process, the legitimacy of the confidentiality principle is recognized." However, the representative also noted, "Collecting mobile phones indiscriminately, even when less intrusive methods are available, can be considered a violation of freedom of communication."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.