Highly Disturbing Monitoring by School of Kid's Account

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an IT professional, and let me just say that what MCPS is doing is not something that we do in the industry. For most of us, when we use an official work laptop/device, we should always assume we are monitored because when we started work, we signed an agreement on something that actually gave permission to our company to do so. Secondly, even when we logged in, normally we have to go through a VPN, and the computer will state somewhere that you are in VPN mode. For MCPS, your child can log in to their MCPS account on their parents' personal home computer, close all the windows after they are done, and still be logged in. Unless a child EXPLICITLY LOGS OUT, you will never know if you are still LOGGED IN to the system. Then next day, the parents opens up their computer and access websites such as banks to pay bills, maybe log into some portal to look at health information, maybe email personal information or have private text chats with coworkers/friends. What that means is to a parent, they think the are no longer in the MCPS system and all their activities including their entire screenshots are being tracked and saved by possibly not just the teacher but other administrator. I am sorry, but this is fundamentally very flawed.

I get the MCPS's teacher's perspective about how important it is to track our kids' activities at school. But unless MCPS makes this process of home computer intrusion a lot more clear, or heck, even logs the kid out of the MCPS account after idling for 30 minutes, this cannot possibly have legal legs to stand on.

I have never gotten anything from my school regarding chromebooks usage aside from my kids bringing home their account login/password. Even if the school emails the parents to inform them that kids should be logging out of their computer, I cannot imagine that this would not become a huge legal issue if some important personal information is leaked. This needs to be fixed.

By your kid logging out/you logging your kid out.

I don't think you are understanding how what mcps is doing is not a typical IT standard that is adopted by any organizations that I have worked for.

You work at crappy places with low it budgets ripe for liability issues

It is actually quite the opposite. What MCPS does is a liability issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are using a school resource at home, therefore you are under school rules while using it.

No different than accessing the IRS website.

No expectation of privacy while using corporate, school or government resources.

Sounds like you need to start doing some parenting any user circle and other home monitoring of your internet.

Yikes. i think Americans would be very upst if they thought they logged onto the IRS website and their activity their was being tracked. I also think Americans and the US Court system would be very upset if after accessing the IRS wrbsite, all their activity on the home computer was being tracked and lovged even when they were on non-IRS websites. In fact, I'm pretty sure courts would say that amounted to unauthorzied search in violation of 4A.

[Anonymous]

Facebook monitors you when you are not logged in as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Facebook monitors you when you are not logged in as well.

And look at all the issues they have had to deal with recently. But as an aside, they don't take screenshots and send it off.

[Anonymous]

This was disclosed to you when your kid got an account and you signed an acknowledgment. There is nothing wrong with it. But even if there were, you agreed to it and have waived any objections. Read stuff before you sign it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an IT professional, and let me just say that what MCPS is doing is not something that we do in the industry. For most of us, when we use an official work laptop/device, we should always assume we are monitored because when we started work, we signed an agreement on something that actually gave permission to our company to do so. Secondly, even when we logged in, normally we have to go through a VPN, and the computer will state somewhere that you are in VPN mode. For MCPS, your child can log in to their MCPS account on their parents' personal home computer, close all the windows after they are done, and still be logged in. Unless a child EXPLICITLY LOGS OUT, you will never know if you are still LOGGED IN to the system. Then next day, the parents opens up their computer and access websites such as banks to pay bills, maybe log into some portal to look at health information, maybe email personal information or have private text chats with coworkers/friends. What that means is to a parent, they think the are no longer in the MCPS system and all their activities including their entire screenshots are being tracked and saved by possibly not just the teacher but other administrator. I am sorry, but this is fundamentally very flawed.

I get the MCPS's teacher's perspective about how important it is to track our kids' activities at school. But unless MCPS makes this process of home computer intrusion a lot more clear, or heck, even logs the kid out of the MCPS account after idling for 30 minutes, this cannot possibly have legal legs to stand on.

I have never gotten anything from my school regarding chromebooks usage aside from my kids bringing home their account login/password. Even if the school emails the parents to inform them that kids should be logging out of their computer, I cannot imagine that this would not become a huge legal issue if some important personal information is leaked. This needs to be fixed.

By your kid logging out/you logging your kid out.

I don't think you are understanding how what mcps is doing is not a typical IT standard that is adopted by any organizations that I have worked for.

You work at crappy places with low it budgets ripe for liability issues

It is actually quite the opposite. What MCPS does is a liability issue.

You are clearly not a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was disclosed to you when your kid got an account and you signed an acknowledgment. There is nothing wrong with it. But even if there were, you agreed to it and have waived any objections. Read stuff before you sign it.

I never signed permission for my child to have any type of MCPS account. Can I opt out now?

My kids will not be allowed to access MCPS accounts from home anymore. Teachers will have to come up with alternative formats for homework.

[Anonymous]

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/detail.aspx?recID=213&policyID=IGT-RA§ionID=9

Purpose
To ensure the security of all elements of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) computer systems, related technology, and electronic information;
To delineate appropriate uses for all users of MCPS computer systems;
To promote intellectual development through the use of computer systems, related technology, and electronic information in a safe environment; and
To ensure compliance with relevant state, local, and federal law.
Background
MCPS provides computer equipment, computer services, and network access to schools and offices for purposes consistent with the mission of MCPS. The wide array of information technology available to MCPS users introduces new risks and opportunities. The responsibility for appropriate behavior rests with all individuals who use MCPS information technology resources and computing facilities. In schools, the online activities of minors are monitored by staff, and through systemwide technology protection measures. Levels of access are provided depending on assignment, responsibility, and need to know. Users must protect information and resources against theft, malicious damage, unauthorized access, tampering, and loss.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/igtra.pdf

[Anonymous]

Can some lawyer type please read this and let us know how screwed we are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was disclosed to you when your kid got an account and you signed an acknowledgment. There is nothing wrong with it. But even if there were, you agreed to it and have waived any objections. Read stuff before you sign it.

Never signed anything like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was disclosed to you when your kid got an account and you signed an acknowledgment. There is nothing wrong with it. But even if there were, you agreed to it and have waived any objections. Read stuff before you sign it.

Liar. Or post the link.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was disclosed to you when your kid got an account and you signed an acknowledgment. There is nothing wrong with it. But even if there were, you agreed to it and have waived any objections. Read stuff before you sign it.

Never signed anything like that.

Our child has been given multiple online accounts - MCPS and other ones for kids to play games (or they call learning). I was not ok with my child's information being given out and they said too bad. I only learned of them when my child showed me and gave me the information. They give our kids chrome books for use at school without our permission too. Its ironic as they send out literature saying parents should limit screen time and most kids spend hours on screens at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was disclosed to you when your kid got an account and you signed an acknowledgment. There is nothing wrong with it. But even if there were, you agreed to it and have waived any objections. Read stuff before you sign it.

Never signed anything like that.

Our child has been given multiple online accounts - MCPS and other ones for kids to play games (or they call learning). I was not ok with my child's information being given out and they said too bad. I only learned of them when my child showed me and gave me the information. They give our kids chrome books for use at school without our permission too. Its ironic as they send out literature saying parents should limit screen time and most kids spend hours on screens at school.

I lie and tell my kids' teachers that we don't have internet at home and I can only access email on my phone. I just don't have my kids do any homework that is online. They are in elementary school so I don't care if their grades are affected. It is ridiculous how much screen time they get at school.

[Anonymous]

Is there any Privacy Attorney (is this even a thing) available in DMV who can give a crash course? Or a AMA here? I want a class action lawsuit.

[Anonymous]

There is no legitimate reason for MCPS to be monitoring home computers. This is absolutely ridiculous and an invasion of privacy.