Receiving a school-provided portable computer for your child to use at home should provide parents with a sense of reassurance regarding education and the advances of technology. For a family in Pennsylvania, however, attainment of one such notebook has led to a lawsuit being brought against the local School District following allegations of Web cam spying.
That old Big Brother feeling. Image: myriad ways/Flickr.
According to the suit, filed by Michael and Holly Robbins on behalf of their son Blake Robbins, the Lower Merion School District of Ardmore encroached upon their family privacy, stole private information, and violated the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) by accessing the integrated Web camera on Blake’s notebook.
The legal filing also claims Mr. Robbins has acquired confirmation that the school district has the ability to access and use its computer Web cameras remotely, capturing images at any time and without either the knowledge or consent of the user stationed behind the keyboard.
The Robbins family was first alerted to the possible Web camera intrusion in November of 2009, when the assistant principal of Harriton High School allegedly relayed to young Blake that the school district was concerned regarding “improper behaviour in his home,” before then showing him photographic evidence taken via the notebook’s camera.
“As the laptops at issue were routinely used by students and family members while at home, it is believed and therefore averred that many of the images captured and intercepted may consist of images of minors and their parents or friends in compromising or embarrassing positions, including, but not limited to, various stages of dress or undress,” the Robbins family claim in their lawsuit.
The Lower Merion School District of Ardmore has not yet issued official comment regarding the accusations. However, in an email reportedly offered to Main Line Media News, a spokesman insisted that the district has “always been committed to protecting the privacy of our students.”
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