New challenges: Another province regulates cell phone and AI use in schools

The province of Río Negro in Argentina has unanimously approved a new law to regulate the "pedagogical use, regulated and evaluated, of personal digital devices, artificial intelligence (IA), and emerging technologies within the educational system."

The legislation, spearheaded by legislator Roberta Scavo, does not seek an outright ban on technology but rather aims to establish clear boundaries to mitigate negative effects on school interactions and academic results. The law adopts a progressive and age-differentiated approach.

In early childhood education, personal device use will be restricted throughout the school day, with exceptions only for health, accessibility, or emergencies, always under teacher supervision. For primary school students, devices can only be used for specific, teacher-planned pedagogical activities communicated to families. In secondary schools, students may use their devices in class only when explicitly directed by the teacher as part of the lesson plan. Outside the classroom, such as during breaks, usage will be governed by each institution's school coexistence agreements.

A novel aspect of the law is its regulation of generative AI. Its use is forbidden if it substitutes for a student's own intellectual work, prevents verification of genuine understanding, or aids plagiarism. When AI use is permitted, teachers must set transparent rules defining which parts of an assignment must be student-generated.

The law also includes common prohibitions to safeguard the school community, strictly forbidding unauthorized recording, photographing, or dissemination of images and audio within schools, as well as the use of devices for harassment or cyberbullying. Scavo emphasized that while the National Education Law promotes responsible technology use, the rapid advancement of AI necessitates specific provincial regulations. The law draws on recommendations from organizations like UNESCO and the OECD, which link intensive screen time without pedagogical guidance to reduced attention spans and lower performance in reading and mathematics.

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guarantee quality education with equal opportunities, promoting the responsible use of information and communication technologies.