Education is changing. New technologies are allowing information to flow within schools and beyond, enabling new learning environments and providing new tools to improve the way teachers teach and the way students learn. Data-driven innovations are bringing advances in teaching and learning but are accompanied by concerns about how education data, particularly student-generated data, are being collected and used.
The Future of Privacy Forum believes that there are critical improvements to learning that are enabled by data and technology, and that the use of data and technology is not antithetical to protecting student privacy. In order to facilitate this balance, FPF equips and connects advocates, industry, policymakers, and practitioners with substantive practices, policies, and other solutions to address education privacy challenges at both the K-12 and higher ed levels.
Processing of Personal Data for AI Training in Brazil: Takeaways from ANPD’s Preliminary Decisions in the Meta Case
Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) across the globe are currently wrestling with fundamental questions raised by the emergence of generative AI and its compatibility with data protection laws. A key issue is under which legal basis companies might be able to process personal data for training AI models. Another one is how the rights of individuals […]
Out, Not Outed: Privacy for Sexual Health, Orientations, and Gender Identities
Co-authored by: Judy Wang (FPF Intern), Jeter Sison (FPF Intern), Jordan Wrigley (FPF Data and Policy Analyst, Health & Wellness) On National Coming Out Day, it’s important to recognize that Coming Out is a right of passage for many LGBTQ+ individuals and a decision that they should be empowered to make for themselves. Protections for […]
FPF Submits Comments to Inform New York Children’s Privacy Rulemaking Processes
At the end of the 2024 legislative session, New York State passed a pair of bills aimed at creating heightened protections for children and teens online. One, the New York Child Data Protection Act (NYCDPA), applies to a broad range of online services that are “primarily directed to children.” The NYCDPA creates novel substantive data […]
Regulatory Strategies of Data Protection Authorities in the Asia-Pacific Region: 2024, and Beyond
The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has emerged as a dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape for data protection regulation. As digital economies flourish and cross-border data flows intensify, data protection authorities (DPAs) across the region are grappling with complex challenges posed by technological advancements, changing business practices, and evolving societal expectations regarding privacy. This Report provides a […]
Does the GDPR Need Fixing? The European Commission Weighs In
The European Commission published its second Report on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on July 25, 2024, assessing the progress of its impact and effectiveness of application since the Commission’s first Report published in June 2020. The second Report acknowledges relative success of the GDPR in protecting individuals and supporting businesses, while also highlighting […]
FERPA Exceptions: A Study in Studies
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, protects personally identifiable information from education records from unauthorized disclosure. The Law has been affording parents privacy rights over their children’s education records for almost half a century now; indeed, the fiftieth anniversary of FERPA’s passage is this August 2024. As FERPA’s golden birthday approaches, FPF is […]
Contextualizing the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act: A Deep Dive into the Federal Kids Bill
Co-authored by Nick Alereza, FPF Policy Intern and student Boston University School of Law. With contributions from Jordan Francis. On July 30, 2024, the U.S. Senate passed the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOSPA) by a vote of 91-3. KOSPA is a legislative package that includes two bills that gained significant traction in the […]
School Fundraising in the Digital Age: Policy, Privacy, and Pitfalls
Fundraising is deeply rooted in school communities, serving as a vital means to supplement limited budgets. These efforts are often led by parent organizations, athletic boosters, student groups, or the school itself. Traditionally, fundraisers were dominated by product sales – cookie dough, candy bars, and kitchenware – often involving students soliciting support door-to-door or from […]
A Critical Line of Defense-The Security.txt File’s Potential to Mitigate School Cybersecurity Attacks
Current Cybersecurity Challenges in Schools All it takes is somebody opening up an attachment for cybercriminals to infiltrate a school’s data system. And it’s not just educational data at risk of being exposed. Schools collect and store vast amounts of sensitive information about students, employees, and alumni: grades, student behavior notes like suspensions, social security numbers, physical […]
Reflections on California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code in Advance of Oral Arguments
Co-authored with Isaiah Hinton, Policy Intern for the Youth and Education Team Update: On Wednesday, July 17th, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments for an appeal of the District Court’s preliminary injunction of the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AADC). Judges Milan Smith Jr., Mark Bennett, and Anthony Johnstone appeared interested […]