An increasing number of schools are digitally masking the faces of their students on school Web sites to protect them from people who might harm them.

More and more schools are creating Web sites to advertise school events and other activities. But opinions are divided among teachers, parents and local government officials on whether the Web sites should carry photographs showing students' faces as they could help criminals locate potential victims.

Some say that such measures as digital masking should be utilized, while others argue that digitally masked photos look bizarre.

Photographs of students are on the Web site of a primary school in Otsu, but children's faces are digitally masked or the photos only show the back of the student.

"We've received complaints about the digital masking. Some say it's an eyesore, but we put a high priority on protecting the privacy of our students," a school official said. "We want to continue masking photos to protect our students."

In July, the city's board of education drastically revised the criteria for operating telecommunication networks of educational institutions, which serve as a guideline for primary and middle schools' Web sites. The criteria, which were implemented this month, state that schoolchildren should not be able to be identified in school photos on Web sites and their names, grades and homerooms should not be posted.

"People are more aware of safety considerations than before," an official of the board of education said. "We'd like to stop the wrongful use of photos on school Web sites and prevent students from being identified by outsiders."

The board of education in Kyoto compiled a report in 2002 on precautions schools should take when making Web sites. The report urges schools to use photos shot at an angle that prevents the subjects from being identified, or to use digital imaging to blur identifying features.

The report also advises schools to only use photos showing students' faces when necessary.

Other boards of education, including Chiba's, have similar criteria. But the decision remains that of schools or municipalities in each case.

"It's not that we want to ban schools from carrying photos showing students' faces. Sometimes it's necessary, for example, when a child wins an award," an official of the Tokyo Board of Education said.

According to the administration bureau that awards schools for outstanding Web sites, "There are many (school) Web sites that carry photos showing children's faces. At the same time, however, there are many that don't," a bureau official said.