We're Listening! School Monitoring of Social Media Cybertraps LIVE 115

Motivations School safety Student safety Political / religious orthodoxy Legal Issues First Amendment rights Federal / State Legislation 2019 – Restoring, Enhancing, Securing, and Promoting Our Nation’s Safety Efforts (RESPONSE) Act Includes a provision called “Children’s Internet Protection” amendment that encourages districts to invest in programs that detect “online activities of minors who are at risk of committing self-harm or extreme violence against others.” Under the bill, almost all federally funded schools would be required to install software of this kind. Targets Teachers Students Parents Types of Monitoring Publicly-Available Content Private Accounts Messaging Tools Hacking / Unauthorized Intrusion Risks Invasion of privacy / overreach Chilling of speech Abuse of power against teachers, students, and/or parents Tools Human Resources / School Investigators Software / Artificial Intelligence Third Party Investigators Parents Resources - #2022–03–03 Mother at center of Rochester Community Schools social media scandal speaks out “https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/03/04/mother-at-center-of-social-media-scandal-against-rochester-community-schools-speaks-out/” - #2022–02–25 Linewize Webinar Stresses Need for K–12 Safety Monitoring “https://www.govtech.com/education/k–12/linewize-webinar-stresses-need-for-k–12-safety-monitoring” - #2022–02–24 Lee County school district accused of spying on social media “https://www.winknews.com/2022/02/24/lee-county-school-district-accused-of-spying-on-social-media/” - #2021–12–17 Utah officials urge social media monitoring after school threats “https://kutv.com/news/local/officials-urge-social-media-monitoring-after-school-threats” - #2021–12–16 Schools ask parents to help monitor student’s social media amid vague threats “https://kutv.com/news/local/schools-ask-parents-to-help-monitor-students-social-media-amid-shooting-threats” - #2021–11–02 Berkeley County school leaders encourage parents to learn apps, monitor social media to keep children safe “https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/berkeley-county-news/berkeley-county-school-leaders-encourage-parents-to-learn-apps-monitor-social-media-to-keep-children-safe/” - #2019–11–07 A Newly introduced Federal Bill prompts Texas schools to begin to monitor students social media “https://www.newschannel10.com/2019/11/07/river-road-isd-begins-utilize-software-monitor-students-social-media/” - #2019–11–01 New Bill Would Require Schools to Monitor Social Media “https://www.govtech.com/education/new-bill-would-require-schools-to-monitor-social-media.html” - #2019–08–22 School Safety Package Includes AI, Social Media Monitoring “https://www.govtech.com/biz/school-safety-package-includes-ai-social-media-monitoring.html” - #2021–09–03 Texas school district to monitor employees’ social media accounts “https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/texas-social-media-austin-school-district” - #2021–09–02 Texas schools are surveilling students online, often without their knowledge or consent “https://www.dallasnews.com/news/investigations/2021/09/02/texas-schools-are-watching-millions-of-students-online-often-without-their-knowledge-or-consent/” - #2019–05–30 Schools Are Deploying Massive Digital Surveillance Systems. The Results Are Alarming “https://www.edweek.org/technology/schools-are-deploying-massive-digital-surveillance-systems-the-results-are-alarming/2019/05” - #2015–07–31 How one school district is monitoring social media of students and teachers “https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2015/07/31/how-one-school-district-is-monitoring-social-media-of-students-and-teachers/” - #2013–09–18 California school district hires firm to monitor students’ social media “https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/14/us/california-schools-monitor-social-media/index.html” - #2013–09–15 Calif. school district monitors kids’ social media “https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/15/school-district-monitors-social-media/2817299/” - [n.d.] Schools: Social Media Surveillance “https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/protect-liberty-security/social-media/schools-social-media-surveillance”
  • Motivations

  • School safety

  • Student safety

  • Political / religious orthodoxy

  • Legal Issues

  • First Amendment rights

  • Federal / State Legislation
    • 2019 – Restoring, Enhancing, Securing, and Promoting Our Nation’s Safety Efforts (RESPONSE) Act
    • Includes a provision called “Children’s Internet Protection” amendment that encourages districts to invest in programs that detect “online activities of minors who are at risk of committing self-harm or extreme violence against others.” Under the bill, almost all federally funded schools would be required to install software of this kind.
  • Targets

  • Teachers

  • Students

  • Parents

  • Types of Monitoring

  • Publicly-Available Content

  • Private Accounts

  • Messaging Tools

  • Hacking / Unauthorized Intrusion

  • Risks

  • Invasion of privacy / overreach

  • Chilling of speech

  • Abuse of power against teachers, students, and/or parents

  • Tools

  • Human Resources / School Investigators

  • Software / Artificial Intelligence

  • Third Party Investigators

  • Parents

  • Resources

- #2022–03–03 Mother at center of Rochester Community Schools social media scandal speaks out “https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/03/04/mother-at-center-of-social-media-scandal-against-rochester-community-schools-speaks-out/” - #2022–02–25 Linewize Webinar Stresses Need for K–12 Safety Monitoring “https://www.govtech.com/education/k–12/linewize-webinar-stresses-need-for-k–12-safety-monitoring” - #2022–02–24 Lee County school district accused of spying on social media “https://www.winknews.com/2022/02/24/lee-county-school-district-accused-of-spying-on-social-media/” - #2021–12–17 Utah officials urge social media monitoring after school threats “https://kutv.com/news/local/officials-urge-social-media-monitoring-after-school-threats” - #2021–12–16 Schools ask parents to help monitor student’s social media amid vague threats “https://kutv.com/news/local/schools-ask-parents-to-help-monitor-students-social-media-amid-shooting-threats” - #2021–11–02 Berkeley County school leaders encourage parents to learn apps, monitor social media to keep children safe “https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/berkeley-county-news/berkeley-county-school-leaders-encourage-parents-to-learn-apps-monitor-social-media-to-keep-children-safe/” - #2019–11–07 A Newly introduced Federal Bill prompts Texas schools to begin to monitor students social media “https://www.newschannel10.com/2019/11/07/river-road-isd-begins-utilize-software-monitor-students-social-media/” - #2019–11–01 New Bill Would Require Schools to Monitor Social Media “https://www.govtech.com/education/new-bill-would-require-schools-to-monitor-social-media.html” - #2019–08–22 School Safety Package Includes AI, Social Media Monitoring “https://www.govtech.com/biz/school-safety-package-includes-ai-social-media-monitoring.html” - #2021–09–03 Texas school district to monitor employees’ social media accounts “https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/texas-social-media-austin-school-district” - #2021–09–02 Texas schools are surveilling students online, often without their knowledge or consent “https://www.dallasnews.com/news/investigations/2021/09/02/texas-schools-are-watching-millions-of-students-online-often-without-their-knowledge-or-consent/” - #2019–05–30 Schools Are Deploying Massive Digital Surveillance Systems. The Results Are Alarming “https://www.edweek.org/technology/schools-are-deploying-massive-digital-surveillance-systems-the-results-are-alarming/2019/05” - #2015–07–31 How one school district is monitoring social media of students and teachers “https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2015/07/31/how-one-school-district-is-monitoring-social-media-of-students-and-teachers/” - #2013–09–18 California school district hires firm to monitor students’ social media “https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/14/us/california-schools-monitor-social-media/index.html” - #2013–09–15 Calif. school district monitors kids’ social media “https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/15/school-district-monitors-social-media/2817299/” - [n.d.] Schools: Social Media Surveillance “https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/protect-liberty-security/social-media/schools-social-media-surveillance”


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We're Listening! School Monitoring of Social Media Cybertraps LIVE 115