PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

[Pokes]

Now this is kinda messed up.

Suit: Pa. school spied on students via laptops

The Robbinses said they learned of the alleged webcam images when Lindy Matsko, an assistant principal at Harriton High School, told their son that school officials thought he had engaged in improper behavior at home. The behavior was not specified in the suit.

"(Matsko) cited as evidence a photograph from the webcam embedded in minor plaintiff's personal laptop issued by the school district," the suit states.

Matsko later confirmed to Michael Robbins that the school had the ability to activate the webcams remotely, according to the suit, which was filed Tuesday and which seeks class-action status.

[jetercanoturn2]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Did they do this to Kobe Bryant when he was there too?

[BurghFan]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Yeah, that is messed up. I don't know what reasoning the school district could have to justify such a practice.

[JBH3]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Having the ability to spy on a kid through a webcam is a little creepy. Can't say I stick up for the school in that aspect.

However, at the high school where my wife teaches she told me the prinicipal stopped allowing the tech. people to hack into student's school CPU accounts citing a privacy infringement.

One of the tech. guys told my wife that he use to love this aspect of his job because he really felt he was making a difference since he had caught numerous kids cheating and changing their grades somehow via their school CPU logon ID; they had found a way to hack the system via a school research CPU.

However, during this school year countless kids could have given themselves grades they didn't deserve because the principal doesn't want to infringe upon their privacy rights.

Ugh. Hate our society.

[z Revis]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

That's pretty messed up. Wow.

[JBH3]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Yeah, that is messed up. I don't know what reasoning the school district could have to justify such a practice.

Hmmm....maybe they wanted to see if the kid was making pipe bombs in front of his school laptop? Plotting to kill his teachers? Off a couple bullies? I can empathize with a few of those reasons or like reasons, but the idea of spying on a kid (male/female) who could be naked in their room is extrememly creepy, sick, and wrong.

[mgoblue]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Kinda creepy, but not really that much different than IT at your job having access to your computer, your browsing history, etc...

If you're being issued a computer by someone else it's usually a good idea not to do dumb/illegal crap on it.

Doesn't make them using the cams like that a good thing, but it is their property...

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Having the ability to spy on a kid through a webcam is a little creepy. Can't say I stick up for the school in that aspect.

However, at the high school where my wife teaches she told me the prinicipal stopped allowing the tech. people to hack into student's school CPU accounts citing a privacy infringement.

One of the tech. guys told my wife that he use to love this aspect of his job because he really felt he was making a difference since he had caught numerous kids cheating and changing their grades somehow via their school CPU logon ID; they had found a way to hack the system via a school research CPU.

However, during this school year countless kids could have given themselves grades they didn't deserve because the principal doesn't want to infringe upon their privacy rights.

Ugh. Hate our society.

The school can't override the changed grades? That doesn't make any sense.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Our high school just got remodeled (was in the process my senior year and finished the year after), and apparently the whole place is lined with cameras, bathrooms included. I don't really get why, because our town is one of the safest places around.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Our high school just got remodeled (was in the process my senior year and finished the year after), and apparently the whole place is lined with cameras, bathrooms included. I don't really get why, because our town is one of the safest places around.

That's what the people of Columbine said.

[Cusefan]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

If this school is guilty of this, someone will go to Prison. This basically amounts to wiretapping.

[Cusefan]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Our high school just got remodeled (was in the process my senior year and finished the year after), and apparently the whole place is lined with cameras, bathrooms included. I don't really get why, because our town is one of the safest places around.

So Was columbine. But if you are curious as to why the school has cameras everywhere, I will tell you why: since you live in a safe town,I Can assume you also live in a nice area; Thus, your school has disposable money so they can put camera's everywhere.

[Pokes]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Kinda creepy, but not really that much different than IT at your job having access to your computer, your browsing history, etc...

If you're being issued a computer by someone else it's usually a good idea not to do dumb/illegal crap on it.

Doesn't make them using the cams like that a good thing, but it is their property...

And what if these cams caught pics of kids naked? Then you're in possession of child pornography.

[Cusefan]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

And what if these cams caught pics of kids naked? Then you're in possession of child pornography.

lol The best part is they probably archived all the footage

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: PA school accused on spying on students via laptop webcams

Nice! I hope they put the webcams to good use!

American Pie style... that is!