Topic: Student Privacy

Texas schools are reportedly using Social Sentinel software to monitor students' social media posts and emails using artificial intelligence. While the company claims the tool is for preventing violence and suicide, privacy advocates warn it creates a pervasive surveillance state for minors. Some parents now support the installation of cameras in classrooms to monitor teacher conduct in response to these surveillance measures.

A company called Spotter EDU is deploying Bluetooth beacon networks across 40 U.S. campuses to track student attendance and movement. The system, which can flag students for being two minutes late, is criticized as a "slave training" mechanism similar to the Chinese social credit system.

The University of Alabama has implemented a custom version of the "Fan Maker" app to track the location of students inside the football stadium. Students are rewarded with loyalty points for staying through the entire game, addressing Coach Nick Saban's complaints about empty student sections. Similarly, the University of North Carolina is reportedly using tracking technology to ensure student-athletes attend their classes, raising concerns about the normalization of surveillance on campus.

The "Student Digital Privacy Act" was introduced to prevent companies from using educational technology to collect student data for commercial purposes, such as targeted advertising. Obama highlighted the benefits of "innovative websites and apps" that allow parents to track student progress in real-time. The hosts express skepticism, suggesting this is part of a broader move toward codifying government and industry collusion in education.

A PBI Student Survey from an elementary school asks children invasive questions about weapons, bullying, and drug use via Google Forms. The hosts warn that despite claims of privacy, the data is being collected by Google and school administrations.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is revealed to have significant loopholes that allow schools to disclose student records without consent. These exceptions include "health and safety emergencies" and requests from law enforcement or judicial orders. The hosts argue that the act provides no real privacy and serves as a tool for state authorities.