Pennsylvania schools spying on students using laptop Webcams, claims lawsuit

[rbunnymom]

Wow, is all I can say!!! Spying on students in their homes with laptops provided by the schools.

Pennsylvania schools spying on students using laptop Webcams, claims lawsuit

Computerworld - A suburban Philadelphia school district remotely activates the cameras in school-provided laptops to spy on students in their homes, a lawsuit filed in federal court Tuesday alleged.

According to the lawsuit filed by a high school student and his parents, the Lower Merion School District of Ardmore, Pa. has spied on students and families by "indiscriminate use of and ability to remotely activate the webcams incorporated into each laptop issued to students by the School District."

Approximately 1,800 students at the district's two high schools have been given laptops as part of a state- and federally-funded "one-to-one" student-to-laptop initiative.

Michael and Holly Robbins of Penn Valley, Pa., said they first found out about the alleged spying last November after their son Blake was accused by a Harriton High School official of "improper behavior in his home" and shown a photograph taken by his laptop.

An assistant principal at Harriton later confirmed that the district could remotely activate the webcam in students' laptops. "Michael Robbins thereafter verified, through [Assistant Principal] Ms. Matsko, that the school district in fact has the ability to remotely activate the webcam contained in a student's personal laptop computer issued by the school district at any time it chose and to view and capture whatever images were in front of the webcam, all without the knowledge, permission or authorization of any persons then and there using the laptop computer," the lawsuit stated.

The Robbins claimed that the district did not tell them beforehand that their son's laptop webcam could be activated remotely, and added that there was no mention of the functionality in any of the documentation they received or on the district's Web site.

And the privacy of non-students has been violated, the Robbins said. "By virtue of the fact that the webcam can be remotely activated at any time by the School District, the webcam will capture anything happening in the room in which the laptop computer is located, regardless of whether the student is sitting at the computer and using it," the lawsuit charged.

The suit accuses the school district of violating the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), and other federal and state statues, including the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Act.

Mark Haltzman of the law firm Lamm Rubenstone, and the Robbins' attorney, did not return a call for comment. A spokesman for the Lower Merion School District said early Thursday that the district had only found out about the suit hours before, and so was not able to immediately comment on the case.

If the lawsuit is granted class-action status, other students in the district and their families would be able to join the action.

The Robbins family has asked for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, and demanded that the court issue an injunction barring the district from activating students' laptop cameras.

[jen276here]

I think I'd have a hissy fit.... Think of the poor kids who were simply changing their clothes and have been truly exposed to complete strangers because of this.... I can't even begin to understand how horrifying that could be to them (I can only imagine if it were me...)

[Macaela25]

I can't understand why on earth a school dstrict would care enough about what kids were doing at home to spy on them. I mean, really....what did this kid do? Smack his sister? Steal some cookies? Make out with the teacher's daughter?

Although I vote that we start giving these laptops to people that make meth and other drugs at home. That would make for some quick and easy prosecutions.

[Smee]

Ick. That's a good reason to put tape over the camera thingy when you use someone else's webcam equipped laptop. Hey, it's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.

[jonjaktez]

This is wrong on so many levels. Everyone has a right to privacy in their own home and a certain amount of privacy in someone elses home.

Unless a judge has approved a "wiretap" then any form of "recording" is against the law.

How many recordings do they have of teenagers and family members undressing? How many recordings do they have of a husband and wife in a romantic act?
How many recordings do they have of adults drinking alcohol?
How many recordings do they have of teenagers preforming a self gratifying act?
How many recordings do they have of people behaving in lawful acts that are PRIVATE?

I hope those within the school district and high schools who were involved in this get punished very badly. In my opinion, schools have decided to cross the line and take the responsibility and authority away from the parents. And yes I know not every kid has responsible parents but the parents that are do not need to be punished for what others don't do.

[thecouponclippa]

Amen, Smee. I'm paranoid on my netbook right now. DW and I were just discussing it; if a laptop ever comes home with DD8, one of two things are gonna happen. Either we're going to void the warranty while we remove parts and D-Ban the hard drive, or it's going back with the battery taped to the lid and we'll buy her own and let her take assignments on a thumb drive. If they don't like it, well I guess it's time to home school.

[jen276here]

This is truly criminal IMO - no different than any other voyeur. Whomever is responsible should be fined, jailed, then labeled a sex offender.....

This is wrong on so many levels. Everyone has a right to privacy in their own home and a certain amount of privacy in someone elses home.

Unless a judge has approved a "wiretap" then any form of "recording" is against the law.

How many recordings do they have of teenagers and family members undressing? How many recordings do they have of a husband and wife in a romantic act?
How many recordings do they have of adults drinking alcohol?
How many recordings do they have of teenagers preforming a self gratifying act?
How many recordings do they have of people behaving in lawful acts that are PRIVATE?

I hope those within the school district and high schools who were involved in this get punished very badly. In my opinion, schools have decided to cross the line and take the responsibility and authority away from the parents. And yes I know not every kid has responsible parents but the parents that are do not need to be punished for what others don't do.

[lestelle]

I wonder if the video is saved on the district's mainframe? If it is and there is video of a child undressing (getting ready for school or bed), will it be considered "kiddie porn" and will any or the whole district be prosecuting for it?

This is frightening on so many levels.

[oceanbreeze]

I found out about this late last night. Its a school district near us and it shocks me and makes me sick to my stomach all in one.

The school district does not have the right to invade privacy like that, claiming the cams were installed to find the comps if they were stolen. Funny thing, cars have lojack installed and there are no cams required for that.
Secondly, what school official thought in his/her right mind that randomly turning on a cam to check on a kid in the privacy of their own home was a good idea? Or a legal one at that?

Schools/districts are getting way too big for their britches when it comes to what jurisdictions they think they have above and beyond everyday laws/government. Its time that the real government keep thier sorry butts in check.

I would be horrified if i were one of the students or families that have one of the laptops. I'd take it right back and buy my own kid their own laptop instead. Simply taping over the camera lens does not stop the people behind this from turning on the speakers remotely to hear what is going on, again, any time they want to. People can do that with cell phones, i don't see why it could not be done w/ comps too, and we know these ppl are already capable of other spying acts.

Then, i begin to wonder how much public exposure this story will get, and i hope it gets a lot. There are tons of school districts, colleges, etc. that distribute laptops/cell phones as part of the essentials (and they are the student's to keep, not give back) which raises questions nationwide: if we are just hearing about this here, how many other places could this potentially be occuring as well?

The persons behind this need to be prosecuted to the fullest.
The kids and families should be offered free counseling. I can't imagine how paranoid, anxious, and violated i would feel if this were me.

Something has to be done, school districts just think they can do anything & get away with it these days like they are their own sovereign.

[~~Who,Me?~~]

I just wanted to say that I also live local to this story, and the district is vehemently denying this. They are saying that the computers are equipped with some technology to track them if they are stolen, but that's it. Two sides to every story, you know.