California AG Warns About Data Mining of Students

In a report released November 2 by the California state attorney general’s office, private educational technology companies are warned to be very vigilant in their handling of sensitive student data obtained by them in the course of their dealings with public schools.

“In some instances we’re seeing evidence of companies mining data from school children beyond what’s necessary for their education,” said Daniel Suvor, chief of policy for California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

Harris’s office released their report, entitled “Ready for School: Recommendations for the Ed Tech Industry to Protect the Privacy of Student Data,” to convince these corporate educational conglomerates with substantial contracts with school districts nationwide to come up with procedures that aren’t careless with the private data obtained from students in the course of complying with the various standardized tests and other activities required as part of the big money agreements signed by administrators and the companies.

According to the report, education has become an $8-billion-a-year business. No wonder these companies care so much about pleasing their clients.

The purpose of the report and its recommendations is to limit “the collection and use of the student information acquired through the technology,” Harris’ office said in a written statement.

 

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