"I always like to take a picture of them and mess with them:" This screen shot, from the PBS Frontline television special "Digitial Nation" shows a NY school monitoring kids

The Lower Merion School District (LMSD) in Pennsylvania has been accused of using laptop computers sent home with students to spy on their activities.

In a class action lawsuit filed on February 11, 2010, lawyers for Blake J. Robbins, a student at the high school, allege school administrators violated students privacy and civil rights by secretly activating an unknown security feature on the Apple laptops.

“Defendants (LMSD, Board of Directors and Superintendent) have been spying on the activities of Plantiffs (Robbins and parents) and Class members by Defendants’ indiscriminant use of and ability to remotely activate the webcams incorporated into each laptop issued to students by the School District,” the lawsuit alleges.

Appearing on ABC’s Good Morning America program last Monday, Robbins said, “I think what they’re doing was absolutely terrible and scary. They might as well be sitting in my room watching me without my knowing.”

The Robbins family found out that the school was spying on students on November 11, 2009, when Assistant High School Principal Lindy Matsko told Robbins about “improper behavior in his home,” and showed him a picture taken from Robbins’ laptop, according to the lawsuit.

Robbins’ father, Michael, confirmed the school district did have the ability to “remotely activate the webcam” on the personal laptop at any time it wanted.

The school was also able to view and capture any images in front of the webcam, “all without the knowledge, permission or authorization of any persons then and there using the laptop.”

In a February 18 response to the invasion of privacy allegations posted on the LMSD website, the school said the security feature intended to track lost, stolen and missing laptops has been deactivated.

“The District is dedicated to protecting and promoting student privacy,” said Superintendent Christopher McGinley.

The computer program, whereby 2,620 laptops were distributed to students for educational purposes, was funded by State and Federal grant money and will continue, said school administrators.

READ MORE:

Lower Merion School District – Laptop Security Updates

Blake J. Robbins v. Lower Merion School District

PBS Frontline – Digital Nation

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