Technology has become the driving force of our world. But has it gone to the next level? Has technology extended to a point much further then it needs to be? Are those with access to the new technologies taking advantage of it and over stepping the boundaries? This article in the New York Times discusses a school in Philadelphia part the Lower Merion School District who had given mac laptops to all of there high school students. This school in Philadelphia takes pride in their advancement in technology but do they take advantage of this technology too?
The article outlines how this school added an application to all mac's that were given to the students. This application allowed for the webcam on these laptops to be remotely activated at anytime. So what did the school say about why this application was added? Strictly to locate the laptop if it was ever lots. I think that's obscure. What ever happened to the great GPS? May be it's out dated? And my previous point; technology has extended much further then it needs to be. I feel this technology was introduced and created with no real need and simply a purpose for this new technology needed to be developed. A void needed to be filled.
Furthermore the reason for this article, of course misuse of the remote activation of the camera. I student filed a claim to the police department when a teacher approached him saying they had footage of him being involved in "bad activities". I have a few problems with this right off the bat.
1) misuse and abuse of a privilege
2) why when the student signed for these laptops were they not notified of this application on their laptops?
3) if the laptop was not lost why was the camera turned on?
4) it is none of the schools business what the student is doing on their own time off school property
5) Aren't their privacy laws that should be in effect
6) What has high school and technology come too!
How do you feel about this situation? Do you think technology has gone to far in some case like I believe? That things are being produced without any real purpose first?
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I actually heard about this not too long ago. My reaction was similar to yours.
ReplyDeleteMatters of privacy and the web 2.0 are always vexing for me. While it is almost impossible to be an anonymous internet user with the advent of such things as social net working sites, extreme measures of surveillance such as this take issues of privacy to a whole new level. What I thought was most unbelievable was that the teachers and administrators responsible for this atrocity were not even remotely ashamed about supplanting surreptitious image capturing hardware.
Their excuse for it being a necessary tool to locate a possible misplaced or stolen laptop is a load of garbage. I don’t know a great deal about anti-theft Macbook applications but I do know that there is software (http://www.orbicule.com/undercover/mac/) that isn’t so intrusive, but will still protect your computer and thwart potential thieves.
I have to admit, I am not surprised that this happened in the U.S. In a country where mass hysteria and fear is embedded in their society, it is no wonder this school would not even question the morality behind spying on a bunch of students. I can however acknowledge that yes, these students are minors and they may not understand the risks involved with disclosing their identity and personal information on the web, but that is no excuse for defiling their rights and liberties as people and citizens (despite the fact their Patriot Act already does so).
Exactly how I feel!!! For one there are other applications that can be used to protect these mac books, like the option you suggested and how I also suggested a simple gps. The camera idea and the reason behind it is exactly what you said "a load of garbage".
ReplyDeleteThe part about the teachers and administrators not feeling guilty or ashamed of their behaviour also shocked me. It was just down right disgusting to hear that they took no responsibility for this.
Also, I never really took the geographical location in to account, but I think that is a good point you brought up about this happening in the US. It seems as though they do not care much for privacy and human rights for that matter.