MattFancy Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gdwlE3DpcMD9gNAnFMrQ7iNHCS6AD9DUNV2G1 PHILADELPHIA — A federal lawsuit accuses a suburban Philadelphia school district of spying on students at home through school-issued laptop webcams. The suit says Lower Merion School District officials can activate the webcams remotely without students' knowledge. The lawsuit alleges the cameras captured images of Harriton High School students and their families as they undressed and in other compromising situations. Families learned of the alleged webcam images when an assistant principal spoke to a student about inappropriate behavior at home. Superintendent Christopher W. McGinley did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press. Uh, what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 Wow...this won't end up well for that school district. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DButz65 Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 They are just making sure young Eagles fans dont start making pipe bombs to bring into the Linc On a serious note, thats efff'd up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popeman38 Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 What were the terms of use they signed when issued the laptop? If the terms of use clearly stated that the county could access the computer at anytime, I do not think any laws were broken. Of course, this still won't end well for the school district. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drop Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 What were the terms of use they signed when issued the laptop? If the terms of use clearly stated that the county could access the computer at anytime, I do not think any laws were broken. Of course, this still won't end well for the school district. accessing the computer at any time, and spying on you while you're in the confines of your own home are two completely different things. There's a line that gets crossed somewhere between "accessing content" and "watching you in your own home via webcam". I'm not sure how one can argue that using a webcam to watch you at home constitutes, "accessing a school issued laptop remotely". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Punani Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 What were the terms of use they signed when issued the laptop? If the terms of use clearly stated that the county could access the computer at anytime, I do not think any laws were broken. Of course, this still won't end well for the school district. I'm sure those terms didn't include taking videos of those students and/or other people in their private homes. The people in the school district should be facing prison time for this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattFancy Posted February 18, 2010 Author Share Posted February 18, 2010 accessing the computer at any time, and spying on you while you're in the confines of your own home are two completely different things. There's a line that gets crossed somewhere between "accessing content" and "watching you in your own home via webcam". I'm not sure how one can argue that using a webcam to watch you at home constitutes, "accessing a school issued laptop remotely". I agree. I would understand if they were tracking the ip addresses to make sure you weren't going to certain websites. But turning on the webcam and spying on people is completely different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcsluggo Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 note to self: get loaner laptop back from hot neighbors before they come home and get a chance to surf the web. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 I agree. I would understand if they were tracking the ip addresses to make sure you weren't going to certain websites. But turning on the webcam and spying on people is completely different. Exactly, the school district has every right to MONITOR what these people were doing on their computers. However, they have no right to invade anyone's privacy by literally watching the person (not the computer activity). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCS Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 Another article about this. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9158818/Pa._schools_spy_on_students_using_laptop_webcams_claims_lawsuit?taxonomyId=84 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosperity Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 child porn charges on the way probably Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aREDSKIN Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 The school district is in deep doo doo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCS Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 This would be known as one of those generous amounts of defecation striking the rotary arm moments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibbsFactor Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 accessing the computer at any time, and spying on you while you're in the confines of your own home are two completely different things. There's a line that gets crossed somewhere between "accessing content" and "watching you in your own home via webcam". I'm not sure how one can argue that using a webcam to watch you at home constitutes, "accessing a school issued laptop remotely". So if you are on a company laptop in the confines of your own home and run a kiddie porn ring, the company has no recourse? And I bet this was a lone perpatrator. No chance the school would have authorized anything like this. Some IT dude has issues is all. But don't arrest him cause it might humiliate him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattFancy Posted February 18, 2010 Author Share Posted February 18, 2010 So if you are on a company laptop in the confines of your own home and run a kiddie porn ring, the company has no recourse? And I bet this was a lone perpatrator. No chance the school would have authorized anything like this. Some IT dude has issues is all. But don't arrest him cause it might humiliate him. They can track your ip address. They don't need to randomly turn on the webcam to see what you're doing in your own home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 I support the ability to track usage of said laptops since they are the school's property, however I would expect a waiver need to be signed that specifies the school will monitor laptop activity. However, spying through the webcam or microphone is inexcusable and should carry heavy, heavy consequences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popeman38 Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 They can track your ip address. They don't need to randomly turn on the webcam to see what you're doing in your own home. They also have the right to remotely log in and go through your files. Sometimes, counties don't have enough manpower or budget to fund a proper cyber security taskforce and resort to randomly accessing and reviewing content. Which they have the right to do if you signed a terms of service/use (or possession of said electronics was consent to monitor/access). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibbsFactor Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 They can track your ip address. They don't need to randomly turn on the webcam to see what you're doing in your own home. Right. I'm sure the school has a laptop policy and I'm sure the school has the ability to scan files on the laptop. I'm sure the school in no way authorized an Assistant Principle moral authority to question what someone does at home, especially by activating a webcam and spying on them. Even if the kid was doing inappropriate stuff on the laptop at home and off the school's network, they'd have very little resources or authority to even know. He's a peeping tom and should be dealt with accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam@section118 Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 So if you are on a company laptop in the confines of your own home and run a kiddie porn ring, the company has no recourse? And I bet this was a lone perpatrator. No chance the school would have authorized anything like this. Some IT dude has issues is all. But don't arrest him cause it might humiliate him. Is he a 12 year old student as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibbsFactor Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 Is he a 12 year old student as well? Does it matter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam@section118 Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 Does it matter? I would treat a 12 year old student who wrote on a desk differently then I would treat a adult who was spying on people in the privacy on their own home. That's just me, though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 There's no defense of this, there's no grey areas to be debated. It's flat out wrong, it's criminal, it's perverse. It's not about security, it way way out of bounds. Slap anyone involved with every charge available that may apply. If the school system wants to monitor computer activity, install a keystroke detector and check it once a week or so. Anyone accessing sites not deemed appropriate use for a school computer shows up, remove the computer privilege from the student. Spying on anyone in their house is Big Brother out of control. ~Bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Brown #43 Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 I'm trying to think what's more astonishing...that they were doing this, or that they (presumably) believed it was ok that they were doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibbsFactor Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 I would treat a 12 year old student who wrote on a desk differently then I would treat a adult who was spying on people in the privacy on their own home.That's just me, though.... :doh: Who wouldn't? What does a 12 year old writing on a desk have to do with this? Was the principle spying on a 12 year old writing on a desk? I'm confused. Enlighten me. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt Rich Fla Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Eww, all I can picture is some greasy *** janitor down in some broom closet watching kids at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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