School used student laptop webcams to spy on them at school and home

[Lee]

I know there is no possible way for this not to go off-topic, but its so disgusting to me, that I have to post about it here to let you all know....

Article Link: http://www.boingboing.net/2010/02/17/school-used-student.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+boingboing/iBag+%28Boing+Boing%29

Text:

According to the filings in Blake J Robbins v Lower Merion School District (PA) et al, the laptops issued to high-school students in the well-heeled Philly suburb have webcams that can be covertly activated by the schools' administrators, who have used this facility to spy on students and even their families. The issue came to light when the Robbins's child was disciplined for "improper behavior in his home" and the Vice Principal used a photo taken by the webcam as evidence. The suit is a class action, brought on behalf of all students issued with these machines.

If true, these allegations are about as creepy as they come. I don't know about you, but I often have the laptop in the room while I'm getting 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 AV bugs is purely horrifying.

Schools are in an absolute panic about kids divulging too much online, worried about pedos and marketers and embarrassing photos that will haunt you when you run for office or apply for a job in 10 years. They tell 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.

Court Case: Robbins v. Lower Merion School District
Click here for the pdf of the lawsuit.

[Buddhagirl]

Yeah. I read about this the other day. Disgusting. I'm worried that they saw many kids dressing and undressing. Gross.

[StL FinFan]

I don't have webcams.  Can built in ones be deactivated?

[bsmooth]

Every official should be fired period and never allowed to be part of the education system again. Also if any child was seen in a state of undress they should be prosecuted under child porn laws.

[Buddhagirl]

Every official should be fired period and never allowed to be part of the education system again. Also if any child was seen in a state of undress they should be prosecuted under child porn laws.

Agreed. I would love to hear the thought process that went along with this. How could anyone think this was a good idea. Further, why do they  care what the kids are doing off school property. The whole thing is just...ew.

[ToticoLicker]

Agreed. I would love to hear the thought process that went along with this. How could anyone think this was a good idea. Further, why do they  care what the kids are doing off school property. The whole thing is just...ew.

I agree, this creeps me out big time.  No one has the right to invade privacy like that.  I agree with bsmooth that this school system needs a major overhaul. 

One thing though..... if what student's do off school property has a detrimental effect on them in school, school officials do have the right to take action. 

For example, if my daughter gets into a fight with another girl off school property, both girls can be suspended from school the next day.  Especially if they are wearing anything that has their school name and/or logo on it.

[Philly Fin Fan]

This is about 15 minutes away from where we live, so we heard about this the other day. Made me double check if my company laptop had a webcam in it! 

[ToticoLicker]

This is about 15 minutes away from where we live, so we heard about this the other day. Made me double check if my company laptop had a webcam in it! 

I did the same thing with my work laptop.  I know your area.  I've got a cousin who lives in Upper Darby. 

What do you do?

[Buddhagirl]

I agree, this creeps me out big time.  No one has the right to invade privacy like that.  I agree with bsmooth that this school system needs a major overhaul. 

One thing though..... if what student's do off school property has a detrimental effect on them in school, school officials do have the right to take action. 

For example, if my daughter gets into a fight with another girl off school property, both girls can be suspended from school the next day.  Especially if they are wearing anything that has their school name and/or logo on it.

I don't think what a kid does off property should have any bearing on their school life UNLESS there is some sort of legal action. For instance the 2 girls in question get in a fight and arrests occur? Sure the school should be able to do something.  Just as it would be for adults and their emplyment. Otherwise, it's none of the schools business. If teens want to send inappropriate photos of themselves to others from home that's for their parents to deal with.

[fyo]

The school's argument, at least as I've read elsewhere, was that there were problems with theft of these devices and the monitoring was only supposed to be used when a theft was reported.

[Frimp]

The school's argument, at least as I've read elsewhere, was that there were problems with theft of these devices and the monitoring was only supposed to be used when a theft was reported.

If this is true, the school should have gone public with the information by letting every parent know before hand what they were doing, why they were doing it, and when they would be doing it. Or, they should have gone to the police and let them know so that they could obtain the proper permissions.

[Philly Fin Fan]

I did the same thing with my work laptop.  I know your area.  I've got a cousin who lives in Upper Darby. 

What do you do?

I'm actually in the north-western suburbs of Philly. Upper Darby is about 45 minutes to an hour away from me. I'm in sales.

[Defense54]

Things like this are in play everywhere. Technology is getting very scary and people need to be concerned. Hotel rooms, changing rooms, and even public bathrooms.  No one can ever charge you with anything illegal based on anything captured where you have an expectation of privacy. However there are Voyeur's out there getting there Jollies off and embarrassing the heck out of people daily. It s a serious issue from kids with cell phone cameras in school to Full out Tech junkie perverts in public areas.

[bsfins]

OK, Don't get all over me,I'm not agreeing with the school district.....(I think I saw this in action on a recent Documentary,you can watch the episode on PBS.org,the Show is Frontline, Episode digital nation Section/part 4 is the part about the laptops in school..)

I'm curious if this is more sensationalized than it really is....In the Mentioned episode,It shows the principal watching the students through their Laptops proved by the school districts...It's more like go to P.C., or remote desktop.The kids are using an Apple type application,that allows you take pictures of yourself,using the built in webcam.The Kids use it like a mirror...They check their hair,lipstick,make up,etc,etc...(while in class) he joked, sometimes, I'll take a picture of them when they're making faces...It let's them know he's there.....The software allows them,make sure they're not surfing sites Myspace,youtube,facebook, while they're supposed to be in class....








I'm just wondering if there is a bit of "the Star,National enquirer,TMZ reporting.....IE Some celebrity says they had a lump,they got it checked out for cancer,it was nothing, they joked they thought they had 6 months to live..and the headline is "Star has cancer. 6 months to live...."

Modified to add, the whole episode of digital nation was pretty intresting,Some of the stuff, I knew about..but it was still interesting...

[Gabriel]

I don't have webcams.  Can built in ones be deactivated?

This is a good question. Anybody know?