http://www.boingboing.net...udent.html

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.



I just thought all the parents here on the org should know about this.

Lemonduck said:

?

PANDURITO said:

I hope not. I mean kids do like to listen to music while they change or just do stuff about the room.

I read another story about this and the school said that they only turn them on for lost laptops.

Don't be so quick to judge the district. It seems that everyone is against the gov't lately...
For all we know, that kid could have saved the pic on the harddrive himself.

I'm sure it is covered in the fine print of the papers the parents signed off on.