To that end, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch an investigation into the data collection practices of education technology providers whose services have been thrust into kitchen-classrooms across the country. In a letter from Sens. 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.), the lawmakers asked the FTC study the matter ahead of their upcoming scheduled review of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule.
“Children are a uniquely vulnerable population that deserve heighten privacy protections. The FTC should take extreme caution not to weaken–either purposefully or inadvertently–privacy protections under COPPA,” the senators wrote in their letter. “In order to ensure that the COPPA Rule review benefits young users, the FTC should use its statutory power to uncover critical information about evolving and widespread threats to children’s privacy that warrant further protections.”
Recently, notes an article from CNET, two Illinois children sued Google for allegedly improperly—possibly in violation of Illinois law and COPPA—collecting face scans and other biometric data through its virtual classroom tools. The lawsuit was filed through the children’s father in San Jose, Calif. and may end up with class-action status.
FROM TWITTER
DigitalPrivacy @digitalprivacy May 13
"Daily Digest: FTC probing Zoom on privacy; Children's ad watchdog wants #edtech federal probe on privacy; GOP #COVID-19 #privacy under more attack; Hacked law firm gets data of Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna. http://dp.news/?p=1413"
According to the senators, there is a lack of public information with respect to what companies are doing with children’s personal data and that needs to be addressed by federal regulators. They have urged the FTC to use its authority granted in Section 6(b) of the FTC Act to “develop a clear understanding of current industry practices” as part of its COPPA review. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also come out asking Congress as well as state and local government officials to address privacy safeguards along with other issues cropping up from new education routines.
“In letters sent to state and local officials in 23 states, we’re demanding all students have equal access to the technologies that make effective remote learning possible, and that states and school districts mandate the implementation of strong and uniform privacy safeguards to protect students when they are engaged in remote learning,” the advocacy group writes.
The ACLU has also asked Congress to consider another COVID-19 relief package providing between $2-3 billion each month, and for at least 30 days after the health crisis has subsided, to provide emergency broadband to those who need it. It has also Congress create at least a $4 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund “to provide immediate assistance for students and library patrons that need access to technology to engage in remote and distance learning in their homes,” according to the group.