- From a boingboing.net post
"According to the filings in Blake J Robbins v Lower Merion School District (PA) et al, the laptops issued to high-school students in the well-heeled Philly suburb have webcams that can be covertly activated by the schools' administrators, who have used this facility to spy on students and even their families. The issue came to light when the Robbins's child was disciplined for "improper behavior in his home" and the Vice Principal used a photo taken by the webcam as evidence. The suit is a class action, brought on behalf of all students issued with these machines."
Full Post:
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/02/17/school-used-student.html (http://www.boingboing.net/2010/02/17/school-used-student.html)
Ok.. there's some weird shit in this world - but this is about as creepy as it comes. Issuing laptops to kids, and then turning on the A/V gear and watching them at home... I'm not a litigious person, but if that happened to my kid, I'd be on the phone to the cops and a lawyer faster than you can say pitchforks and torches...
Heard about this yesterday...
I give this thread an hour....tops. ;D
An hour... you're generous today ;)
Hopefully everyone can keep it reasonable... ok ok I know, it's a lot to ask.
Quote from: yuu on February 19, 2010, 05:45:30 AM
An hour... you're generous today ;)
Hopefully everyone can keep it reasonable... ok ok I know, it's a lot to ask.
There just isn't anywhere for it to go. [laugh]
who makes the decision to do this kind of stuff?
The odder part, is it probably had to be agreed upon by a few folks...
Id picture them the same as those people who tried to kidnapp thsoe hatian kids.
They think they are doing something good, and are blinded by their own good will, that they dont realize what they are doing is very very disturbing and unethical.
I <3 big brother
In Soviet Russia, TV watches you!
[roll]
I assume the school district is going to get their asses handed to them in the suit, but...
Where there's one getting caught, there's _____ not gettibg caught, right? :P
I'm moving to a desert island. make the beast with two backs this 1984 shit.
Quote from: zarn02 on February 19, 2010, 06:17:52 AM
In Soviet Russia, TV watches you!
[roll]
I assume the school district is going to get their asses handed to them in the suit, but...
Apparently in Amerika too!
I didn't read the legal filing attached to the boingboing post - but I think it's a private school - not a public school district
Quote from: yuu on February 19, 2010, 06:21:54 AM
Apparently in Amerika too!
I didn't read the legal filing attached to the boingboing post - but I think it's a private school - not a public school district
still.... [laugh]
How does a school think they have authority over the students at home? That's silly.
I hope every administrator at the school involved with this is canned.
IB4TL [evil]
Nanny state - we live in one. I'll get my coat.......
Quote from: angler on February 19, 2010, 06:36:43 AM
IB4TL [evil]
Nanny state - we live in one. I'll get my coat.......
[roll]
Quote from: ducpainter on February 19, 2010, 06:40:42 AM
[roll]
Eyeroll? That's it? Apparently I'm being way too positive......
Quote from: angler on February 19, 2010, 06:50:25 AM
Eyeroll? That's it? Apparently I'm being way too positive......
I push the red button shortly after the eyeroll when provoked.
Quote from: He Man on February 19, 2010, 06:05:36 AM
Id picture them the same as those people who tried to kidnapp thsoe hatian kids.
They think they are doing something good, and are blinded by their own good will, that they dont realize what they are doing is very very disturbing and unethical.
Is it good will or self righteousness? Perhaps they are the same.
I don't know too many schools where the administration has the know-how to do that kinda stuff. I'm sure there had to be some IT guy setting up these comps. How come he's not throwing up red flags?
Quote from: ducpainter on February 19, 2010, 06:51:49 AM
I push the red button shortly after the eyeroll when provoked.
All in jest, all in jest. Not out for provocation today......
Quote from: angler on February 19, 2010, 06:59:57 AM
All in jest, all in jest. Not out for provocation today......
cool...
Quote from: erkishhorde on February 19, 2010, 06:57:54 AM
I'm sure there had to be some IT guy setting up these comps. How come he's not throwing up red flags?
For teh sake of argument, it could have been a 3rd party firm doing the set up. Some tech got a work order to do xy and z and had no clue it was going to handed out to school kids. Even if he/she worked for the school, they might not have know the plan was to give the lappys to kids... Just playing devils advocate.
Regardless of the IT guy/gal my blame lies with the creep who cooked up this creepy notion. Man, if I ever have a kid and they come home with a device that has a camera - it's getting taped over.
<swelling conspiracy theory paranoia>
<goes looking for electrical tape>
I hadn't heard about this until last night at the dinner table, shortly after I teased our teenage daughter that that her school (which, wouldn't you know, issues every student a MacBook with integrated cam...) is shifting to a new online system that allows us not only to keep tabs on her grades and assignments, but view a live webcam feed of her in class. That's when AM told me about the cameras turned the other direction and my little joke wasn't quite so funny.
OK, it was worth it, if just for the teen's "I'm not sure if I believe you, but regardless, I disapprove" look... [cheeky]
Quote from: triangleforge on February 19, 2010, 07:17:20 AM
I hadn't heard about this until last night at the dinner table, shortly after I teased our teenage daughter that that her school (which, wouldn't you know, issues every student a MacBook with integrated cam...) is shifting to a new online system that allows us not only to keep tabs on her grades and assignments, but view a live webcam feed of her in class. That's when AM told me about the cameras turned the other direction and my little joke wasn't quite so funny.
Big difference between a camera in the class room that you as the parent know about and this...
Quote from: yuu on February 19, 2010, 07:04:04 AM
For teh sake of argument, it could have been a 3rd party firm doing the set up. Some tech got a work order to do xy and z and had no clue it was going to handed out to school kids. Even if he/she worked for the school, they might not have know the plan was to give the lappys to kids... Just playing devils advocate.
You wouldn't want you boss watching you while you're working either, right? I mean without you knowing of course. He can stand over your shoulder all he wants but spying on you? I've seen my dad bring home his IT work and do it in his underwear at home. Not sure his boss would wanna see that either. [laugh]
Quote from: yuu on February 19, 2010, 07:21:33 AM
Big difference between a camera in the class room that you as the parent know about and this...
I agree; and an even bigger difference is that I was just pulling her leg and there isn't in fact a live webcam in her classroom(s).
Quote from: triangleforge on February 19, 2010, 07:27:54 AM
I agree; and an even bigger difference is that I was just pulling her leg and there isn't in fact a live webcam in her classroom(s).
No? Ah I caught a news teaser where they are actually doing that - cam feeds from class rooms. But it's something both kids, parents and staff all know about. I misunderstood and thought you meant that your child's school had rolled out a program liek that
Where's all the sense of humour?
If it was my kid.....and the laptop cam was on at random, I'm make sure it was aimed at a very interesting thing each and every time.
Think of the possibilities.
Quote from: MrIncredible on February 19, 2010, 08:26:17 AM
Where's all the sense of humour?
If it was my kid.....and the laptop cam was on at random, I'm make sure it was aimed at a very interesting thing each and every time.
Think of the possibilities.
Well, if you knew, sure. have a ball. But they didn't tell folks that this was going on. So now you;ve got a camera and mic in your home that you have no idea is live? No bueno!
Quote from: yuu on February 19, 2010, 08:32:23 AM
Well, if you knew, sure. have a ball. But they didn't tell folks that this was going on. So now you;ve got a camera and mic in your home that you have no idea is live? No bueno!
You get home from work early, kid is at his trumpet lessons, wifey is bent over pulling a pie out of the oven... one thing leads to the other and you are the new amature vid on some porn site.
Quote from: yuu on February 19, 2010, 08:32:23 AM
Well, if you knew, sure. have a ball. But they didn't tell folks that this was going on. So now you;ve got a camera and mic in your home that you have no idea is live? No bueno!
Well thats just begging for a good ole fashioned lawsuit, and a drive be egging.
Quote from: yuu on February 19, 2010, 07:32:39 AM
No? Ah I caught a news teaser where they are actually doing that - cam feeds from class rooms. But it's something both kids, parents and staff all know about. I misunderstood and thought you meant that your child's school had rolled out a program liek that
My high school drafting teacher had a camera in his room. He told the kids straight up on the first day. It was essentially a computer lab and he was pretty lax about the use of tunes while people were working on their drawings so it was security in case someone's ipod went missing or a computer suddenly blew up and he wanted to know why.
My HS had cameras in various places, that's no problem to me. Nor is what your teacher did, he said it was there (hell he could have lied even), it was in a school class room. That's all quite normal these days and a totally different animal from bugging someones home.
Hey, it's almost 5 hours old now DP... we can behave. Fer reals.
Quote from: yuu on February 19, 2010, 10:26:56 AM
Hey, it's almost 5 hours old now DP... we can behave. Fer reals son.
if your going to be a mothermake the beast with two backser, do it right and dont mess with a 67yearold white dude. ;)
Quote from: yuu on February 19, 2010, 10:26:56 AM
Hey, it's almost 5 hours old now DP... we can behave. Fer reals.
...and if it's only to prove me wrong it's OK.
My work here is done. :-*
Quote from: He Man on February 19, 2010, 10:27:55 AM
if your going to be a mothermake the beast with two backser, do it right and dont mess with a 67yearold white dude. ;)
If you're gonna be a rocket scientist like your big brother Dave...
learn to make the beast with two backsing count. ;)
Quote from: He Man on February 19, 2010, 10:27:55 AM
if your going to be a mothermake the beast with two backser, do it right and dont mess with a 67yearold white dude. ;)
holy shit have you seen that video? funny as hell!!!
One of the Computer Geeks at work scared the crap out of me one day, I said it must be very difficult to tap into someone's home
and switch on a Webcam, He bet me $20 he could do it in under an hour, sure enough, he got some basic info from the personnel
files we have at work, and in under 45 mins, he called me over to show me live footage from the Webcam built into my Computer
monitor! :o :o :o :o He still won't tell me how he did it, but the cheeky prick did it!!
That's why in our home, The Webcam built into my computer monitor has been disabled, I opened up the case and cut the wires
to the friggen thing and the main Camera we use for Skype is only plugged when we need it, then unplugged whenever it is not in use.
It was after that I placed an order for a Tin foil Hat!
Quote from: CairnsDuc on February 19, 2010, 11:34:36 AM
One of the Computer Geeks at work scared the crap out of me one day, I said it must be very difficult to tap into someone's home
and switch on a Webcam, He bet me $20 he could do it in under an hour, sure enough, he got some basic info from the personnel
files we have at work, and in under 45 mins, he called me over to show me live footage from the Webcam built into my Computer
monitor! :o :o :o :o He still won't tell me how he did it, but the cheeky prick did it!!
That's why in our home, The Webcam built into my computer monitor has been disabled, I opened up the case and cut the wires
to the friggen thing and the main Camera we use for Skype is only plugged when we need it, then unplugged whenever it is not in use.
It was after that I placed an order for a Tin foil Hat!
I've been selling copies of that live footage for years. ;D
Quote from: CairnsDuc on February 19, 2010, 11:34:36 AM
One of the Computer Geeks at work scared the crap out of me one day, I said it must be very difficult to tap into someone's home
and switch on a Webcam, He bet me $20 he could do it in under an hour, sure enough, he got some basic info from the personnel
files we have at work, and in under 45 mins, he called me over to show me live footage from the Webcam built into my Computer
monitor! :o :o :o :o He still won't tell me how he did it, but the cheeky prick did it!!
That's why in our home, The Webcam built into my computer monitor has been disabled, I opened up the case and cut the wires
to the friggen thing and the main Camera we use for Skype is only plugged when we need it, then unplugged whenever it is not in use.
It was after that I placed an order for a Tin foil Hat!
I want to know how he did it, so I can prevent people from doing it to me....the new laptop that I bought yesterday has a webcam (only computer in my home that has one). I was already planning on putting tape over it, but I would like to prevent people from being able to access my computer anyways.
Quote from: Autostrada Pilot on February 19, 2010, 11:51:29 AM
I want to know how he did it, so I can prevent people from doing it to me....the new laptop that I bought yesterday has a webcam (only computer in my home that has one). I was already planning on putting tape over it, but I would like to prevent people from being able to access my computer anyways.
turn off remote access.
Quote from: CairnsDuc on February 19, 2010, 11:34:36 AM
One of the Computer Geeks at work scared the crap out of me one day, I said it must be very difficult to tap into someone's home
and switch on a Webcam, He bet me $20 he could do it in under an hour, sure enough, he got some basic info from the personnel
files we have at work, and in under 45 mins, he called me over to show me live footage from the Webcam built into my Computer
monitor! :o :o :o :o He still won't tell me how he did it, but the cheeky prick did it!!
That's why in our home, The Webcam built into my computer monitor has been disabled, I opened up the case and cut the wires
to the friggen thing and the main Camera we use for Skype is only plugged when we need it, then unplugged whenever it is not in use.
It was after that I placed an order for a Tin foil Hat!
I have a webcam. When not in use, it's pointed at my ceiling. :P
i used to have a webcam hooked up to my comp in the dorms. i knew my roomie was stealing my shit so over one holiday break when i was gone i left my pc on and accessed it from home.
that's when i started turning my PC off when it's not in use and disconnecting the cam and mic when i'm not using them.
also, this is the town right next to where i live. it's all voer the news. and not just because of the webcam thing. it's a more affluent school district and people are asking why they get to give kids laptops when the poorer ones where the kid's parents have no chance of affording them can't get anything.
Quote from: KnightofNi on February 19, 2010, 02:05:24 PM
also, this is the town right next to where i live. it's all voer the news. and not just because of the webcam thing. it's a more affluent school district and people are asking why they get to give kids laptops when the poorer ones where the kid's parents have no chance of affording them can't get anything.
Is it a public school, or a private school? I thought someone earlier said private.
If it's public they have a point.
If it's private someone should give them a primer is basic economics.
it's public unless i misheard all 12 reports on it today.
Quote from: KnightofNi on February 19, 2010, 02:11:09 PM
it's public unless i misheard all 12 reports on it today.
Fair enough.
(The proles were, of course, free of the telescreen. The inner party cared not what they did... :P)
The school where I work is handing out laptops next year. I wonder how this story will affect the roll-out.
Quote from: ducpainter on February 19, 2010, 11:52:11 AM
turn off remote access.
and get a router.... if you're behind a nat'd router, there's basically no way they can get in.
The inevitable denial (http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/20/laptop.suit/index.html?hpt=T2).
Quote from: zarn02 on February 20, 2010, 10:32:37 AM
The inevitable denial (http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/20/laptop.suit/index.html?hpt=T2).
QuoteIn the "acceptable-use" agreement, the families are made aware of the school's ability to "monitor" the hardware, Young said, but it stops short of explicitly explaining the security feature. He said that was a mistake.
Mistake indeed....
Quote from: Autostrada Pilot on February 19, 2010, 11:51:29 AM
I want to know how he did it, so I can prevent people from doing it to me....the new laptop that I bought yesterday has a webcam (only computer in my home that has one). I was already planning on putting tape over it, but I would like to prevent people from being able to access my computer anyways.
I have a Mac that has any remote access turned off, How did he do it? he would not tell me, but it made me a bit more paranoid about Cameras in/on computers,
I always assume if a camera is on/near a computer it is on and recording unless it unplugged or batteries removed.
QuoteI've been selling copies of that live footage for years
That explains why people keep coming up to me saying "Hey! your that Goat Guy!" :-[ [laugh]
I'll be sure to put electrical tape on a dispenser reel when these things are rolled out.
http://techdirt.com/articles/20100221/2118128243.shtml (http://techdirt.com/articles/20100221/2118128243.shtml)
Quote from: Vindingo on February 19, 2010, 10:55:44 AM
holy shit have you seen that video? funny as hell!!!
yes I have, and it was awesome..
"I told you not to mess with me" [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
I won't post it though, probably get me banned if I did.
and to stay on topic. yeah, why is the school buying computers for kids to take home.. seems like a huge waste of money. ???