Last year, a Philadelphia school district was accused of
spying on students with webcams through district-issued MacBooks. It was
recently stated (August 2010) that no charges would be filed as there was no criminal intent
in the surveillance. The LanRev tracking program secretly installed on the
laptops was intended to be activated only when a laptop was reported stolen or
missing. In February, the district deactivated this software.
Background
Blake Robbins' laptop was never lost or stolen, yet the
LanRev program was activated for a period of time between October 20th and
November 4th, 2009. During this time, over 400 screen shots and webcam pictures
were taken, most of which were in his home. Numerous screen-shots of private IM
conversations were found in addition to many pictures of Robbins and other
family members. Other students who never reported their laptop missing or
stolen also had pictures taken of them in the "privacy" of their own homes.
Robbins also stated that he was accused by school officials
for "improper behavior" based upon photos at his home using this software. The
"improper behavior" was thought to be pill popping. His family states that he was
eating Mike and Ike candy.
Concluding Thoughts
Thousands of pictures were taken from students homes while
they were doing private things. Many images included partially dressed people
and those who were sleeping in bed. While it could be argued that it is the
schools computer to do whatever they want with, that seems to pale in
comparison to the severe breach of privacy.
It has been argued in a few places on CR4 that schools
shouldn't be a replacement for parents. What happens in the privacy of a
students' home is definitely parental territory. Should a student be
reprimanded for improper behavior at school for an act done in their home? Do schools
have the right to have tracking software in student laptops in the first place?
Does anyone have any suggestions on avoiding being spied on by webcams?
Resources:
Ars
Technica – Prosecutor: No Charges in Webcam Spy Scandal
Wired – School
District Allegedly Snapped Thousands of Student Webcam Spy Pics
Wired
– Case 2:10-cv-00665-JD Document 44
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Re: Webcam and Program Used to Breach Student Privacy in the Home
"Almost" Good Answers: