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February 18, 2010 By Tanya Roscorla
A lawsuit brought against a Pennsylvania school district alleges school officials violated students' privacy by activating school-issued laptop webcams while they were at home.
Michael E. and Holly S. Robbins filed a class-action lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court against the Lower Merion School District, the district's board of directors and Superintendent of Schools Christopher W. McGinley, alleging they had violated the privacy of their son and the other high school students in the district.
The school district was in the final stages of issuing laptops, which included built-in webcams, to each of the approximately 1,800 students in its two high schools. According to the lawsuit, the Pennsylvania school district had been surveiling Blake and his classmates by remotely activating the webcams while they were at home.
School officials denied the allegations in a letter posted Thursday, Feb. 18, on the district Web site.
The students and parents were not informed that school staff could monitor their behavior, according to the lawsuit, which claimed that on Nov. 11 an assistant principal from Harriton High School told student Blake Robbins that the school district believed he was "engaged in improper behavior at his home." Her proof came from a photograph captured by the webcam that was embedded in his laptop.
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How can the voters allow the school district to give laptops to all students? No wonder taxes are so high! Too much is expected upon the schools and they're then attacked by the same people that give them that power. America is full of people with no common sense.
How can the voters allow the school district to give laptops to all students? No wonder taxes are so high! Too much is expected upon the schools and they're then attacked by the same people that give them that power. America is full of people with no common sense.
How can the voters allow the school district to give laptops to all students? No wonder taxes are so high! Too much is expected upon the schools and they're then attacked by the same people that give them that power. America is full of people with no common sense.
When they thought up this plan, how could anyone at the district think it would end well?
When they thought up this plan, how could anyone at the district think it would end well?
When they thought up this plan, how could anyone at the district think it would end well?
The issue here is invasion of privacy, not the fact that students are issued laptops by the district. The alleged misuse of the computing equipment to monitor the students activities beyond school activities is illegal. If this is proven to be the case, legal action should be taken against the parties named in the suit.
The issue here is invasion of privacy, not the fact that students are issued laptops by the district. The alleged misuse of the computing equipment to monitor the students activities beyond school activities is illegal. If this is proven to be the case, legal action should be taken against the parties named in the suit.
The issue here is invasion of privacy, not the fact that students are issued laptops by the district. The alleged misuse of the computing equipment to monitor the students activities beyond school activities is illegal. If this is proven to be the case, legal action should be taken against the parties named in the suit.
Reading this article "between the lines" and parental "indignity" one gets the sense that the camera was only activated, per school policy, when it was reported "lost, stolen or missing..." implying that this was the circumstance of the activation. While I completely concur that this technology should NEVER be used to spy or monitor lawful citizens, I cannot help but speculate that perhaps there is more to this story and the adage, " the lady doth protest too much me thinks" applies....I suppose the best defense by the "offended" is an aggressive offense to detract from the facts of the case...
Reading this article "between the lines" and parental "indignity" one gets the sense that the camera was only activated, per school policy, when it was reported "lost, stolen or missing..." implying that this was the circumstance of the activation. While I completely concur that this technology should NEVER be used to spy or monitor lawful citizens, I cannot help but speculate that perhaps there is more to this story and the adage, " the lady doth protest too much me thinks" applies....I suppose the best defense by the "offended" is an aggressive offense to detract from the facts of the case...
Reading this article "between the lines" and parental "indignity" one gets the sense that the camera was only activated, per school policy, when it was reported "lost, stolen or missing..." implying that this was the circumstance of the activation. While I completely concur that this technology should NEVER be used to spy or monitor lawful citizens, I cannot help but speculate that perhaps there is more to this story and the adage, " the lady doth protest too much me thinks" applies....I suppose the best defense by the "offended" is an aggressive offense to detract from the facts of the case...
Hope Police charge and jail these perverted deviant school employees!
Hope Police charge and jail these perverted deviant school employees!
Hope Police charge and jail these perverted deviant school employees!
its my understanding that the student was confronted by an assistant principal regarding his behavior at home. the principal also had a photo! the district is in a heap of trouble I think
its my understanding that the student was confronted by an assistant principal regarding his behavior at home. the principal also had a photo! the district is in a heap of trouble I think
its my understanding that the student was confronted by an assistant principal regarding his behavior at home. the principal also had a photo! the district is in a heap of trouble I think
Other sources are stating that the laptops are only to be used in school. If that is the case the student removed the laptop from the school without permission and is concidered stolen. With that in mind, maybe the school was justified in enabling the cam to find the computer. After all it is tax payer money.
Web Cams can be dangerous. Don't leave them on. I would never buy a computer with a built in cam because you never know who is watching. We all need to get use to "Big Brother". He is here and he is watching. Technology is great but also problematicOther sources are stating that the laptops are only to be used in school. If that is the case the student removed the laptop from the school without permission and is concidered stolen. With that in mind, maybe the school was justified in enabling the cam to find the computer. After all it is tax payer money.
Web Cams can be dangerous. Don't leave them on. I would never buy a computer with a built in cam because you never know who is watching. We all need to get use to "Big Brother". He is here and he is watching. Technology is great but also problematicOther sources are stating that the laptops are only to be used in school. If that is the case the student removed the laptop from the school without permission and is concidered stolen. With that in mind, maybe the school was justified in enabling the cam to find the computer. After all it is tax payer money.
Web Cams can be dangerous. Don't leave them on. I would never buy a computer with a built in cam because you never know who is watching. We all need to get use to "Big Brother". He is here and he is watching. Technology is great but also problematic