On Sundays I offer comments on some of the most interesting information technology stories that I have found on the web that week.  Please feel free to join in the discussion or suggest other stories.

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Well I think that we can all agree that using webcams on school provided computers to spy on students without parental consent is a really bad idea.  I also think that attempting to cover it up and denying it when caught with your hand in the cookie jar is a far worse one.  Nevertheless, this story will shape the landscape of information technology and mobile computing for years to come, so all Information Technology Professionals need to be conversant on both the facts and the implications.

hothardware.com – Laptop Monitoring: It’s Not Just In Pennsylvania

“One of the major news stories of the past week has focused on the Lower Merion school district in Philadelphia and the furor created when the school admitted it could remotely activate student webcams and observe them remotely. One clip from an episode of Frontline that aired in June 2009, however, proves that Lower Merion’s Harriton High School is not the only place where students’ rights are potentially being violated.”

There was so much written about this topic that there is no single news story to cover all bases.  I recommend that you review Google News’ aggregation site for this topic.  You can find all angles, opinions, and levels of engagement there.

At its essence, this is a great cautionary tale for IT Pros… just because you can do something does not mean that you should.  Also, it is a story of the best of intentions being carried out in the worst possible ways.  Also, the great ends that were realized by this program have now been completely erased by the means that were used to obtain them.  Really a sad tale… imagine how well this all could have gone if they had simply sent home a permission slip.  My kids’ school sends them home for everything from zoo trips to in-class videos.  How did these school administrators miss the boat by so much?

Well, as they say, knowing is half the battle.  Be warned….

What do you think about this topic?  Do you agree or disagree with me? Do you have a recommended news story for next week? Please share your ideas below.

That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for February 28, 2010  by Scott Coughlin.

 

Image Credit: xomba.com

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