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.
For more information and resources, please visit Student Privacy Compass, a one-stop shop for information, news, and analysis on maintaining student data privacy.
Increased Surveillance is Not an Effective Response to Mass Violence
By Sara Collins and Anisha Reddy This week, Senator Cornyn introduced the RESPONSE Act, an omnibus bill meant to reduce violent crimes, with a particular focus on mass shootings. The bill has several components, including provisions that would have significant implications for how sensitive student data is collected, used, and shared. The most troubling part […]
COPPA Workshop Takeaways
On Monday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a public workshop focused on potential updates to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) rule. The workshop follows a July 25, 2019 notice of rule review and call for public comments regarding COPPA rule reform. The comment period remains open until December 9th. Senior FTC officials […]
FTC Reaches Landmark Settlement Regarding Kids’ Privacy, Clarifies Platforms’ and Video Creators’ COPPA Obligations for Child-Directed Content
By Sara Collins Last week the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released details of a settlement with YouTube under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Although notable for its landmark monetary penalty, the settlement is probably more important for the other requirements that it places on YouTube and content creators. Some of YouTube’s settlement obligations […]
ICYMI: FPF's Amelia Vance Raises Concerns about School Surveillance Technologies on WOSU
Future of Privacy Forum’s Amelia Vance warns of ‘unintended consequences’ that could harm students.
FPF Letter to Senate on School Safety
This week, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) sent a letter to the Senate Homeland, Security & Governmental Affairs Committee in advance of today’s hearing “Examining State and Federal Recommendations for Enhancing School Safety Against Targeted Violence.”
Education, Privacy, Disability Rights, and Civil Rights Groups Send Letter to Florida Governor About Discriminatory Student Database
Today, the Future of Privacy Forum and 32 other education, disability rights, privacy, and civil rights organizations sent a letter to Florida Governor DeSantis, urging him to postpone the implementation of Florida’s proposed school safety database.
FPF Letter to NY State Legislature
On Friday, June 14, FPF submitted a letter to the New York State Assembly and Senate supporting a well-crafted moratorium on facial recognition systems for security uses in public schools.
Future of Privacy Forum Releases Policymaker’s Guide to Student Data Privacy
Plain-Language Resource for Policymakers Addresses Student Privacy WASHINGTON, DC – April 4, 2019 – Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) has released The Policymaker’s Guide to Student Data Privacy, a crucial resource for federal, state, and local policymakers interested in developing thoughtful student data privacy legislation. Since 2014, state policymakers have built new legal frameworks, passing […]
40 Organizations Release Principles For School Safety, Privacy, and Equity
WASHINGTON, DC (March 27, 2019) – Today, FPF and 39 other education, privacy, disability rights, and civil rights organizations released ten principles to protect all students’ safety, privacy, and right to an equal education. The principles are meant to serve as a starting point for conversations with policymakers and school officials about how to keep […]
Privacy in Higher Education: A Conversation with Sara Collins
Innovation in higher education is increasingly fueled by data. From financial aid applications, to online classes, to student success initiatives, college students provide an extraordinary amount of data to schools, companies, and the government. This data provides unprecedented insights into student behavior, and colleges are using it to shape curricula, processes, and services to meet […]