Schools Spying On Students

[Ali G. 37]

The key element that was absent from the article, and subsequent ones on the topic that I have read is the disclosure issued when the laptops were distributed. Did the school notify the students and parents when they gave out the laptops that this was school property, to be used for school related purposes and that it could be monitored? Or did they issue the laptops with carte blanche? I think that will determine how nefarious this whole situation is and how large the punitive damages will be.

In your opinion, how much money should this parent be awarded?

[natty bumppo 297]

The key element that was absent from the article, and subsequent ones on the topic that I have read is the disclosure issued when the laptops were distributed. Did the school notify the students and parents when they gave out the laptops that this was school property, to be used for school related purposes and that it could be monitored? Or did they issue the laptops with carte blanche? I think that will determine how nefarious this whole situation is and how large the punitive damages will be.

remote activation of the webcam will hang the district.

monitoring the computer files and inappropriate surfing (e.g. porn) is pretty standard. does this mean the district didn't properly setup the laptops with a good cyber nanny and restricted user privileges?

[Peikko 1,575]

The key element that was absent from the article, and subsequent ones on the topic that I have read is the disclosure issued when the laptops were distributed. Did the school notify the students and parents when they gave out the laptops that this was school property, to be used for school related purposes and that it could be monitored? Or did they issue the laptops with carte blanche? I think that will determine how nefarious this whole situation is and how large the punitive damages will be.

I very much doubt they distributed them with no T&C's but clearly no one would knowingly agree to having their kids spied upon any time the computer was being used. If they knew that, they would either not have agreed to take them home, or ensured that they didn't leave the computer running while getting changed or having a shower, or whatever.

Edited February 18, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[The_Dude 1,142]

In your opinion, how much money should this parent be awarded?

In these situations, a jury usually throws out a ridiculous number that generally gets negotiated down. I think a fair price to pay would be the cost of a top notch laptop (not one of those $15K alienware ones) for each student. So, $2,000 per laptop * 1,800 students in the class action suit = 4,000,000. I think that is a large enough number that everyone in the district involved with this will get fired, but not so large that kids will suffer in the classroom.

[Ali G. 37]

In these situations, a jury usually throws out a ridiculous number that generally gets negotiated down. I think a fair price to pay would be the cost of a top notch laptop (not one of those $15K alienware ones) for each student. So, $2,000 per laptop * 1,800 students in the class action suit = 4,000,000. I think that is a large enough number that everyone in the district involved with this will get fired, but not so large that kids will suffer in the classroom.

Dude, $4 million would bankrupt CA let alone Phili..

[The_Dude 1,142]

Dude, $4 million would bankrupt CA let alone Phili..

I take it you dont' know Lower Merion very well.....

[natty bumppo 297]

I take it you dont' know Lower Merion very well.....

he doesn't ... maybe he should google the "main line + philadelphia " and learn.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its unlikely there would be terms and conditions that would specify remote activation pf a webcam, certainly not without a notice popping up on screen to ask for permission each time.

You couldn't just randomly do it just to see what someone is up to in their room. If that is what happened its indefensible. Even if there were a terms and conditions to that effect, it probably wouldn't be legal.