Schools are using AI counselors to track students’ mental health. Is it safe?

Schools are deploying AI-powered therapy chatbots to monitor students' mental health conversations and automatically flag potential risks to counselors. The system operates during non-school hours, creating 24/7 surveillance of children's private emotional expressions. While framed as helpful support, this represents a significant expansion of AI surveillance into intimate psychological spaces, raising concerns about privacy, consent, and the appropriateness of automated mental health monitoring of minors.