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Technical News & Discussion => Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion => Topic started by: Noreen on Feb 20, 2010, 11:30:42

Title: US school district spied on students through webcams
Post by: Noreen on Feb 20, 2010, 11:30:42
QuoteA school district in Pennsylvania spied on students through web cameras installed on laptops provided by the district, according to a class action lawsuit filed this week.

Lower Merion school district, in a well-heeled suburb of Philadelphia, provided 2,300 high-school students with Mac laptops last autumn in what its superintendent, Christopher McGinley, described as an effort to establish a "mobile, 21st-century learning environment".

The scheme was funded with $720,000 (£468,000) in state grants and other sources. The students were not allowed to install video games and other software, and were barred from "commercial, illegal, unethical and inappropriate" use.

The district retained remote control of the built-in webcams installed on the computers – and used them to capture images of the students, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court this week.................
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/19/schools-spied-on-students-webcams
Title: Re: US school district spied on students through webcams
Post by: Rik on Feb 20, 2010, 11:36:47
Beware of Geeks bearing gifts? ;)
Title: Re: US school district spied on students through webcams
Post by: Simon on Feb 20, 2010, 14:14:11
Or, just beware of geeks.  ;D
Title: Re: US school district spied on students through webcams
Post by: Colin Burns on Feb 20, 2010, 14:53:52
:gulp:  :out:
Title: Re: US school district spied on students through webcams
Post by: Glenn on Feb 20, 2010, 14:59:42
Beware of any webcams in your home
Title: Re: US school district spied on students through webcams
Post by: Rik on Feb 20, 2010, 16:03:08
A small piece of black tape works wonders, I find. :)
Title: Re: US school district spied on students through webcams
Post by: Tacitus on Feb 20, 2010, 17:18:49
Quote from: Rik on Feb 20, 2010, 16:03:08
A small piece of black tape works wonders, I find. :)

A 3.5mm jack plug in the microphone socket will also disconnect the internal mic  :) 

Title: Re: US school district spied on students through webcams
Post by: Rik on Feb 20, 2010, 17:26:04
Hi Tac :happy: