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[h1]School used student laptop webcams to spy on them at school and home[/h1]
By Cory Doctorow at 11:49 PM February 17, 2010
According to the filings in Blake J Robbins v Lower Merion SchoolDistrict (PA) et al, the laptops issued to high-school students in thewell-heeled Philly suburb have webcams that can be covertly activatedby the schools' administrators, who have used this facility to spy onstudents and even their families. The issue came to light when theRobbins's child was disciplined for "improper behavior in his home" andthe Vice Principal used a photo taken by the webcam as evidence. Thesuit is a class action, brought on behalf of all students issued withthese machines.
If true, these allegations are about as creepy as they come. I don'tknow about you, but I often have the laptop in the room while I'mgetting dressed, having private discussions with my family, and so on.The idea that a school district would not only spy on its students'clickstreams and emails (bad enough), but also use these machines as AVbugs is purely horrifying.
Schools are in an absolute panic about kids divulging too much online,worried about pedos and marketers and embarrassing photos that willhaunt you when you run for office or apply for a job in 10 years. Theytell kids to treat their personal details as though they were precious.
your privacy is worthless and you shouldn't try to protect it.
Update: The school district admits that student laptops were shipped with software for covertly activating their webcams, but denies wrongdoing.
*Scratches head*
By Cory Doctorow at 11:49 PM February 17, 2010
If true, these allegations are about as creepy as they come. I don'tknow about you, but I often have the laptop in the room while I'mgetting dressed, having private discussions with my family, and so on.The idea that a school district would not only spy on its students'clickstreams and emails (bad enough), but also use these machines as AVbugs is purely horrifying.
Schools are in an absolute panic about kids divulging too much online,worried about pedos and marketers and embarrassing photos that willhaunt you when you run for office or apply for a job in 10 years. Theytell kids to treat their personal details as though they were precious.
your privacy is worthless and you shouldn't try to protect it.
Update: The school district admits that student laptops were shipped with software for covertly activating their webcams, but denies wrongdoing.
*Scratches head*