News Google tools for required for classwork are allegedly being used to build data profiles of each student

[Admin]

A new lawsuit alleges that Google is spying on school children and harvesting their data to create profiles, due to the mandated use of Google hardware and software.

Google tools for required for classwork are allegedly being used to build data profiles of each student : Read more

 

[palladin9479]

Google tools for required for classwork

Ehh what ... like was the rush to publish so hard that basic syntax checking wasn't done?

 

[jp7189]

Who didn't see this coming? Why else would Google provide free / low cost solutions to public schools struggling to balance a budget? It was either altruism or a data mining company taking advantage of the situation.

 

[salgado18]

Who didn't see this coming? Why else would Google provide free / low cost solutions to public schools struggling to balance a budget? It was either altruism or a data mining company taking advantage of the situation.

And almost never is altruism

Any serious government would mandate that Google offer special terms that guarantee no-data-mining, options for parents to accept or deny specific services, ways for the *parents* to control what the child does with the computer, etc. Just giving regular consumer products (with unrestricted data collection) to schools and forcing its usage by kids is a violation of private rights on multiple levels.

 

[eichwana]

GDPR would make this illegal. Too bad privacy laws are on the block

 

[bit_user]

Why else would Google provide free / low cost solutions to public schools struggling to balance a budget? It was either altruism or a data mining company taking advantage of the situation.

Well, a 3rd option would be to get students accustomed to using Google's OS and apps, so that they buy their own Chromebook or similar device and/or use Google cloud services for personal use. I think that was Microsoft's main rationale for providing discounted software to schools. "Get 'em hooked while they're young."

 

[thestryker]

Well, a 3rd option would be to get students accustomed to using Google's OS and apps, so that they buy their own Chromebook or similar device and/or use Google cloud services for personal use. I think that was Microsoft's main rationale for providing discounted software to schools. "Get 'em hooked while they're young."

This is also the Apple strategy behind the long term school investing and deep student discounts back when they didn't sell anything inexpensive.

 

[thestryker]

While this wouldn't even remotely surprise me I wonder if there's some policy solutions to it at the school system/state level. I imagine they'd be shot down by google if they were to try to mandate data purging in contract. I'm curious if they limit to school specific accounts or if students can use their own. While that wouldn't be perfect it could help to some degree.

Of course no amount of local policies will help with regards to the widespread generic information that can be gathered as the devices move around.

 

[jp7189]

Ever since Google was found guilty of hacking people's home wifi with their street view rigs, I view them as a 'do whatever we want and pay the fine' kind of company. Altruism, morals, ethics out the window.

 

[CelicaGT]

Ever since Google was found guilty of hacking people's home wifi with their street view rigs, I view them as a 'do whatever we want and pay the fine' kind of company. Altruism, morals, ethics out the window.

Do no Evil