Students' laptop webcams used to spy on them at school - and home

Filed under: Internet, Security

Yay privacy! Students in Philadelphia received laptops from school to get a better learning environment, which is actually a good thing. But the build-in webcams can be covertly activated by the schools' administrators, who have used this facility to spy on students - and more shocking: their families. Yes, at home.

The issue came to light as a kid was disciplined for "improper behavior in his home" and the Vice Principal used a photo taken by the webcam as evidence... What? If true, these allegations are about as creepy as they come. The suit is a class action, brought on behalf of all students issued with these machines.
Personally, I often have my Laptop in the room while getting dressed or have a private discussion with friends and family.

Okay, I (hope) to have the complete control over my own hardware - but hardware from your employer or rental devices cannot be controlled that easily.

Learn more about privacy browsing through our archives and let your Anti Virus check your hard disk frequently.

The guys over at boingboing pointed it all out: "But when schools take that personal information, indiscriminately invading privacy (and, of course, punishing students who use proxies and other privacy tools to avoid official surveillance), they send a much more powerful message: your privacy is worthless and you shouldn't try to protect it."

[Via boingboing]

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Students' laptop webcams used to spy on them at school - and home originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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