Cybertraps Podcast

Show Notes News Item: Florida representative from Naples, FL files HB 1055, which would require schools to consider and vote on a plan to install cameras at the front of every classroom Any installed system would have the ability to record audio and video throughout the classroom, except any area in which children might change clothing. Schools would be required to maintain video archives for at least three months, after which the video could be destroyed unless a request to review was made, or other legal proceeding. Schools would required to blur the faces of any children not part of an "incident" under investigation. Video may not be used to evaluate teachers No provision for funding Motivations for Camera Proposals Student Safety Teacher Safety Parental Surveillance of Teaching Methods and Curricula Teacher Evaluations Potential Downsides Financial and Logistical Installation of Surveillance Systems Can Be Expensive Video Storage Requirements Can Be Large Legal New duty of care for schools Was video system properly installed? Was video properly archived? If system was not running, why not? Possible evidence in myriad proceedings Further temptation for obstruction of justice and spoliation Privacy Once Data Has Been Collected, It Is Very Difficult to Limit Its Use and Misuse We Should Always Be Reluctant to Collect Data in the First Place Will video be used to evaluate which students are friends or dislike each other? Will cameras be powerful enough to read papers, notes, passwords being entered into devices, etc. Risk of voyeuristic misuse Mission Creep Use of video to evaluate teachers Will Students Be Graded on Attentiveness? Anti-cheating tool? Broader social issues Trust in teachers and the educational system Over-empowering small but highly vocal groups within the community Furthering the culture of surveillance Training children to accept surveillance as a constant fact of life (corporatist approach) Has Dystopia Already Arrived? Extensive surveillance already in schools (but typically not in classrooms) Classrooms are already filled with potential "surveillance" cameras Remote instruction has emboldened some parents Resources Florida HB 1055 https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1055/BillText/Filed/PDF #2021-12-30 Proposal Would Lead to Surveillance Cameras in Every Classroom, and Teachers to Wear Microphones https://flaglerlive.com/171423/florida-gop-bill-cameras/ #2021-07-20 The Absurd Proposal to Put Bodycams on Teachers Is ... Feasible? https://www.wired.com/story/the-absurd-proposal-to-put-bodycams-on-teachers-is-feasible/ #2021-07-08 Tech Companies Are Already Building Tucker Carlson’s School Surveillance Fever Dream https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvzyaa/tech-companies-are-already-building-tucker-carlsons-school-surveillance-fever-dream #2021-07-08 Tucker Carlson calls for teachers to wear body cameras to prevent critical race theory teaching https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tucker-carlson-teachers-race-theory-b1879886.html #2021-06-11 ‘Watchdog’ group wants teachers to wear bodycams to assure they don’t teach Critical Race Theory in Nevada district https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-bodycam-school-teachers-critical-race-theory-nevada-20210611-3zqbbhzmprbqxpbwk6mbsjjxvy-story.html #2021-06-11 Nevada group is pushing for teacher BODY CAMERAS to make sure they're not teaching students critical race theory https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9677295/Nevada-group-wants-teachers-wear-body-cameras-stop-CRT.html #2017-02-09 I would never wear a body camera while teaching in school. Here’s why https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/09/never-wear-body-camera-in-school-teaching #2017-02-08 Should schools give teachers body cams? https://nypost.com/2017/02/08/should-schools-give-teachers-body-cams/ [n.d.] Calla Body Worn Cameras https://www.calla.co/