School gives laptops to pupils, spies on them with the builtin webcams (even aft

[Silver Knight]

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.

But when schools take that personal information, indiscriminately invading privacy (and, of course, punishing students who use proxies and other privacy tools to avoid official surveillance), they send a much more powerful message: your privacy is worthless and you shouldn't try to protect it.

Source: BoingBoing

[Celtic]

What in the world would even make you think that you could legally spy on someone?

[Bl★ck Star]

Creepy Oo

*looks at his built in Webcam in his laptop*
Anyone in there ? Oo
*taps it*
Hellooooooo~

[Zstan]

Fucking retards shouldn't be getting naked on the internet in the first place.

But yes, spying on uh..minors isn't right. (Isn't doing this breaking a law?)

[deluxulous]

Fucking retards shouldn't be getting naked on the internet in the first place.

But yes, spying on uh..minors isn't right. (Isn't doing this breaking a law?)

Yup. Invasion of privacy, if I'm not mistaken. Harassment is also a possibility. I'm also pretty sure there's a law where nobody is allowed to put programs or look into your computer with 3rd Party software.

[Bl★ck Star]

Fucking retards shouldn't be getting naked on the internet in the first place.

But yes, spying on uh..minors isn't right. (Isn't doing this breaking a law?)

Yup. Invasion of privacy, if I'm not mistaken. Harassment is also a possibility. I'm also pretty sure there's a law where nobody is allowed to put programs or look into your computer with 3rd Party software.

Yep Youre right Pistol, everything above is a Law.

[Bielecki]

This is pretty horrific.
Were getting closer to that bureaucratic dystopia.

[ISPYUDIE]

"Alright, class. Turn your books to page 34. Oh and Jimmy, nice room-I MEAN Uhh..."

[Alex]

I can see some old principal leaning back in his chair while watching some 15 year old boy change his clothes...

[Freeze]

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.

But when schools take that personal information, indiscriminately invading privacy (and, of course, punishing students who use proxies and other privacy tools to avoid official surveillance), they send a much more powerful message: your privacy is worthless and you shouldn't try to protect it.

Source: BoingBoing

Its not only an invasion of privacy..Its illegal to video tape people like that on  their own property..isn't it?

+Its great for those creepy Pedobear teachers.

[Water]

This is very freaky.... This is why i have a desktop

[Locke]

Wow, now I'll be paranoid to get any free computers.

I'll just re-format if I do :V

[Anatoly]

Thats why I have my own laptop