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

I reformated my school laptop and installed Vista with the key on the bottom (the school had installed XP). Thankfully they provides a ghost and doesn't really care what students does with the computers. But then again, since when can you stop a group of young students studying in the computer field from making the computers their own? XD

You are mixing 2 different types of privacy issues here. Using the computer to perform surveillance on things the student does that don't involve the school's computer or the school's network is clearly a violation of the student's privacy.

Monitoring the use of the school's property itself and the school's network is well within their right, and they probably have some legal obligation to do so. You can complain about site blocking and proxies all you want, but for every person who complains about that, there would be twice as many complaining about what was going on if there was full unrestricted access.

If you want to surf the far corners of the Internet, do it on your own machine on your own network.

One minor note - this took place in Lower Merion which is in Montgomery County outside Philadelphia, not in Philadelphia itself.

I think they should have their assets ceased by the FBI to investigate for evidence of child porn as a result of their illegal surveillance.

There are discussions over at The Volokh Conspiracy.

Sp far, the school administration is defending by saying the camera is supposed to be turned on only if reported lost or stolen, but I have not yet seen any claim that such a report was actually made.

It is noted - by commentors, not the school - that at least one type of such software is indeed only supposed to be accessible by the software/security company upon receipt of a written lost/stolen notice: again, speculation, but possible.

For the most part, the school seems to be legally in the clear as regards "wiretapping" laws. But since the reciients and their parents/guardians were not explicitly told I wonder about "stalking" and "peepimg-Tom" applicability. It would, for example, be legal for a school to install surveillance cameras on its premises - but there would be trouble if they were put in the showers/bathrooms, just as with any other landlord/emp;oyee/agent.

I always check to see if the webcam light is on, because I really think all computers with built-in webcams have an indicator light... just saying... if the students are too dumb to notice.........

Big brother is watching. The lawyers must be rubbing their hands together in glee, if what is reported is true.

The wrong doing that the school did was try and discipline the student while at home. While the school is free to install spying software on their own computers (the law says so) which would probably cover school issued computers, it would still be an invasion of privacy if they operated the cameras in private places like homes.

The school might also be sued as a sex offender because it might have taken photos of kids while in their bedrooms and probably while changing clothes. This is a blunder that will cost stupid management a lot.

"your privacy is worthless and you shouldn't try to protect it."

I have actually been told this directly by teachers, back when I was in school. And I was complaining that there were no locks on the bathroom doors.

This particular incident is rather sinister. The fact that the school decided it was ok to use the photograph as evidence to censure a student for actions they took in their own home shows they were not solely interested in whether the item was stolen. They could not resist the opportunity to see what a child was up to, even if the camera was activated somehow by mistake, and it demonstrates a breathtaking arrogance that they are now trying to defend it with this story.

"I always check to see if the webcam light is on,"

I doubt something purposefully designed to stealthily record the whereabouts of stolen equipment is going to have a big flashing light on it. Most likely when activated by stealth the webcam light does not come on. Just saying... if companies are stupid enough to do that...

I am surprised some legislator on the hunt for some press has not proposed a law requiring all built-in webcams be required to have a physical shutter, citing this case as the reason.

One of the earlier webcams I have had a sliding shutter over the lens, despite being an external unit.

Regarding the LED indicator most laptop webcams have, I seem to recall another case, where a computer tech installed some software on a female customer's computer, and then disabled the LED.

The schools website has this at the end of a letter to the parents regarding this incident.

"We regret if this situation has caused any concern or inconvenience among our students and families. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at info@lmsd.org. Additional information has been posted on our website, www.lmsd.org."

OK, as an Information Security professional, yes, the school has a right to limit what the students can or cannot do with the computer regardless if they are on school property using the school's network or not. They can put parental controls on the devices to block porn and gambling sites. They can monitor the activity of the device. They can even randomly request the device be brought in for inspection and the harddrive checked out for inappropriate material. The school is ultimately responsible for any misuse of the device. If a minor student is accessing porn sites because these controls weren't in place, the school is responsible. If the student is threatening someone using this device, the school is responsible. And so on.

That being said, "spying" on kids and their families using the built-in webcam is just plain WRONG. I can't believe someone actually said the fact they tried to punish the kid for what he did at home was what the school did wrong. That's like saying that a drug dealer's only wrong act was to try to sell to an undercover cop. NO, trying to punish the student at school for what he did at home (no matter what it was) is just the latest in an apparent long line of stupidity by the school. It is just what they did that got them caught. I don't care if they watched It definitely doesn't make the act of watching a student outside of school right.

Watching students through the built-in webcam is no different than looking in their window peeping-tom style, drilling a hole into the girls locker room, putting a video camera in the vents without disclosure or videotaping someone through a peephole like that freak Michael David Barrett did when he taped Erin Andrews.

It is a crime. It is an invasion of privacy. It puts the school at risk for child pornography charges if the student was dressed inappropriately at the time their webcam was accessed. It even brings into question the character of the individual using the webcam. Perhaps his/her computers at work and at home should also be checked by the authorities. There is something "off" with them.

I'm sure someone is going to say that the student and/or their parent signed some agreement that said the student's activity could be monitored. #1. No minor can enter into a contract (a.k.a. the usage agreement). #2. I'm positive the document did not clearly state that "The school can activate the webcam and watch the students whenever we want."

Bottom line: The school is dead wrong on this one and the staff should be brought to task for putting those minors at risk.

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