local school spying on students

[life of the party]

This is all over the news in my area.

http://www.examiner.com/x-30548-Fal...g-the-Lower-Merion-School-District-for-spying

http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/02/21/school-spying-case-in-pennsylvania/?test=latestnews


If you don't feel like reading them here's the summary:

Basically the school gave out apple laptops to all students, but the students & parents did not know the school had the capibility to take pictures of students without their knowledge.

One student was in his room & they took a picture of him. It looked like he was taking drugs so they sent him down to the office the next day & used the picture to get him in trouble (turns out it was just Mike & Ikes xD).

Anyway everyone is FREAKING OUT. That is seriously so creepy. A lot of people are suing the school. This particulary area EXTREMELY rich, even more so than beverly hills. So I'm interested on how this is all going to play out.


What do you think about this?

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

Yeah my aunt works at that school.

 

[MusicalDisneyDreams]

Wow.. that's really creepy. And interesting. I feel like it's illegal, too.. But I'm not sure about that.

 

[GoofysOnlyGirl]

That is not right, & I am pretty sure it is illegal as well. I mean I *might* be able to understand if the computers stayed on school property, so the pictures could only be taken while the students are physically at school, but even then that seems a little much.

I know schools are allowed to view blogs/facebooks/myspaces(does anyone even use that anymore? haha) and can use any content on their against students, but taking pictures in the privacy of their own homes, against their will seems a little off.

 

[vanillamickey]

That... seems like stalking to me. o_o

 

[MuskratSusie]

That's really bad, and pretty creepy.

 

[LittleMissMusical]

thats just wrong!!!! i saw it on the news the other day and i creeped me out. they interviewd a girl who said she left hers open 24/7 even when changing! i have the same laptop and i admit leave it open all the time! they camera on this thing is pretty clear and can make out a lot of smaller details in the back ground(just took picture of my room with it, could read the time on the clock on the other far end!) i hope the parents who sue win and the school Admin gets fired

 

[Pancakes]

That is ridiculously unethical

 

[dwonderz]

Creepers... They shouldn't be allowed to do that - It should be against the law!! (Isnt it???!!!)

 

[Disney Princess Elli]

That sounds so illeagal
And extremely creepy

 

[DramaQueen]

I don't understand how they took pictures on the laptops? I have an apple and to my knowledge you have to activate the application that takes pictures/videos in the computer...i'm not sure how someone else could get access to the webcam if it's not activated i'm really interested to know how they did that!

regardless that is a gross invasion of privacy obviously and the most ridiculous thing i've heard, why a school thinks it's their place to know what their students do in their own time is beyond me. And what about if they had caught a picture of a student naked, or something like that!!!! That's complete BS and makes me ill. Like, wow you caught one kid taking drugs, and I'm sure they "caught" other kids changing, or naked or whatever which is illegal and disgusting. I'd like to know what's being done about this

 

[DramaQueen]

hm, interestingly enough the story was removed from the second website...and i found the first article didn't have much information, i wonder what's going on there...

 

[disfreak24]

that's so wrong!
I think it's illegal too...and they are total creepers!

 

[life of the party]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/84981697.html
Oh jeez, they're bringing in the FBI

 

[Mrs. Chamberlain]

It's times like these I'm happy my school district is too broke to do anything like that XD

 

[froggy5657]

Sometimes I get changed and my computer is still open. I don't want the school taking pictures of me while I'm changing. It is creepy and extremely unethical.

 

[Sparx]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/84981697.html
Oh jeez, they're bringing in the FBI

They definitely need to.

A class action lawsuit could take this school system for everything they have. This is illegal in like five different ways, and crosses numerous ethical boundaries. No one involved in making this decision should be allowed to keep their job. They should be stripped of their license.

 

[CrazySteph]

Thats Terrible

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

Just a side remark - my aunt was just as shocked about all of this as the rest of us, and had zip to do with it!

 

[dancer067]

That's awful and strange.