“K-12 Tech Leaders Prioritize Cybersecurity, But Many Underestimate Risks, Survey Says” via Education Week

This article summarizes a recent survey of IT professionals in k-12 schools. Even before COVID-19, there were major concerns about funding, diversity, and staffing. COVID-19 has exasperated already limited resources. Without adequate cybersecurity protections, students’ privacy is at a higher risk.

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“Sen. Markey Leads Bipartisan Call To Launch Major Children’s Privacy Investigation” via Framingham Source

This article describes the efforts by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) to begin a review of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The senators wrote a letter to the FTC urging it to use its authority found under 6(b) of the FTC Act to develop an understanding of industry practices related to collecting of information from children.

“City Council to consider ban on facial recognition, surveillance oversight, school information-sharing rules” via The Boston Globe

This article by Danny McDonald of the Boston Globe writes about city council proposals in Boston, Massachusetts. Among the privacy proposals was a measure that would define the kinds of information school officials could share with law enforcement.

“Paranoia about cheating is making online education terrible for everyone” via Vox

This article by Rebecca Heilweil of Vox documents some of the privacy concerns raised through universities’ use of artificial intelligence based test proctoring in the COVID-19 distance learning environment.

“Western Massachusetts Writing Project: Using this uncertain moment for educational change” via Daily Hampshire Gazette

This article, co-authored by the executive board of the Western Massachusetts Writing Project, documents some of the disparities that are magnified by COVID-19 forced distance education for K-12 students. “We urge teachers to be thoughtful in the kinds of technology platforms they choose for their students, to not trade ease of use for student privacy in the rush to get online…”