FPF Testifies Before Federal Commission on School Safety
John Verdi, the Future of Privacy Forum’s Vice President of Policy, testified today before the Federal Commission on Student Safety meeting, “Curating a Healthier & Safer Approach: Issues of Mental Health and Counseling for Our Young.”
Free Student Privacy Bootcamp in Chicago on June 26
FPF has partnered with the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) to continue our series of free privacy bootcamps for ed tech companies during the ISTE conference in Chicago. Slots are limited, so RSVP to attend now!
Empirical Research in the Internet of Things, Mobile Privacy, and Digital Advertising
In the world of consumer privacy, including the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile data, and advertising technologies (“Ad Tech”), it can often be difficult to measure real-world impact and conceptualize individual harms and benefits. Fortunately, academic researchers are increasingly focusing on these issues, leading to impressive scholarship from institutions such as the Princeton Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP), Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, UC Berkeley School of Information, and many others, including non-profits and think tanks.
New Study on “the Marketplace for Student Data”
Fordham University’s Center on Law and Information Policy (CLIP) just released the study, “Transparency and the Marketplace for Student Data,” which examines the practices of data brokers who buy and sell information about students. In the study, the authors describe existing privacy laws, map the commercial marketplace, and describe the challenges of understanding how data about students is collected and used.
Ensuring School Safety While Also Protecting Privacy: FPF Testimony Before the Federal Commission on School Safety
Amelia Vance, FPF’s Director of Education Privacy, spoke today at the Federal Commission on Student Safety’s Listening Session. She asked that any Commission recommendations include the need for privacy “guardrails” around school safety measures to ensure that student privacy and equity are protected.
Dept of Ed: Parents, Not Minor Students, Must Consent to College Admissions Pre-Test Surveys and Data Sharing
Ed Tech vendors that use student data to provide services in schools must navigate a complicated legal landscape, including intertwining state and federal laws, all of which are designed to protect student privacy.
FPF Testifies Before Congress on Promoting and Protecting Student Privacy
Washington, D.C– Today, Future of Privacy Forum’s (FPF) Amelia Vance, Director of the Education Privacy Project, will deliver testimony in a hearing before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, “Protecting Privacy, Promoting Data Security: Exploring How Schools and States Keep Data Safe.” In her prepared testimony, Vance will comment on how states, districts and ed tech companies can work together in ensuring student privacy.
FPF Comments on Minnesota Student Privacy Bill HF 1507
Yesterday, the Future of Privacy Forum submitted written comments to members of the Minnesota House of Representatives in response to the pending student privacy bill, the Student Data Privacy Act (HF 1507). FPF expressed concerns about the proposed language of the bill, which would create conflicting requirements for schools and education technology companies, and likely cause unintended consequences for Minnesota schools and students.
FPF Welcomes New Members to the Education Privacy Project
We are thrilled to announce four new members of FPF’s Education Privacy Project. Led by Amelia Vance, Director of Education Privacy, the Project works to equip and connect parents, educators, state and local education agencies, ed tech companies, and other stakeholders with substantive practices, policies, and other solutions to address education privacy challenges.
The Top 10 (& Federal Actions): Student Privacy News (November 2017-February 2018)
The Future of Privacy Forum tracks student privacy news very closely, and shares relevant news stories with our newsletter subscribers. Approximately every month, we post “The Top 10,” a blog with our top student privacy stories.