Comments on: Lower Merion student learns his school-issued MacBook took 8K+ images of him and his screen http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133828 IronEdithKidd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133828 I'm impressed. 27 comments and not one bootlicker whinging "but, but, the school was right to use these cameras! The laptops are school property!" Good show, Boingers! I’m impressed. 27 comments and not one bootlicker whinging “but, but, the school was right to use these cameras! The laptops are school property!”

Good show, Boingers!

]]> By: angryhippo http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1134093 angryhippo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1134093 True, any payment is taxpayer money. Maybe they are looking for a criminal complaint from the DA? True, any payment is taxpayer money. Maybe they are looking for a criminal complaint from the DA?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133838 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133838 8k pictures of one student sort of blows a hole in the theory of it was reported stolen and only ever activated in such situations. There were plenty of parents in the school district who openly criticized the family and the son. They said wonderful things about them, I wonder if the stories changed when they were given a chance to review the pictures of their own children in their bedrooms. There was one father, as I recall, who was very vocal and I had to keep wondering would he feel the same if he was handed pictures of his half naked daughter from the schools server. It is one thing for an administrator to gossip about what they see happening on the campus, it is quite another when this administrator is getting her data from a "theft prevention" software package that lets her play voyeur. The package they claim she could not turn on without permission, but she was well versed in the lives of several of the students and produced the pictures of the boy "taking drugs" or eating mike and ikes in his bedroom. She managed to clean up her school owned computer and violate a court order to turn it over while she did so, but forgot to clean up her email history. And let us not forget the great hard drive purge where they deleted everything from the servers. Oh and emailing screenshots around. And let us not forget that many students questioned the webcam light coming on and going off "randomly" and being told it was just a software glitch and they were working on it. This case is a prime example of what happens when they think no one else is looking. Reasonable people raised concerns, and were told we'd never do that. And then they did everything they never said they would do. When caught they lied, destroyed evidence, found underlings to blame, and tried to get someone else to pay the piper for them. Hell I think they are getting ready to run for Congress. 8k pictures of one student sort of blows a hole in the theory of it was reported stolen and only ever activated in such situations.

There were plenty of parents in the school district who openly criticized the family and the son. They said wonderful things about them, I wonder if the stories changed when they were given a chance to review the pictures of their own children in their bedrooms. There was one father, as I recall, who was very vocal and I had to keep wondering would he feel the same if he was handed pictures of his half naked daughter from the schools server.

It is one thing for an administrator to gossip about what they see happening on the campus, it is quite another when this administrator is getting her data from a “theft prevention” software package that lets her play voyeur. The package they claim she could not turn on without permission, but she was well versed in the lives of several of the students and produced the pictures of the boy “taking drugs” or eating mike and ikes in his bedroom. She managed to clean up her school owned computer and violate a court order to turn it over while she did so, but forgot to clean up her email history. And let us not forget the great hard drive purge where they deleted everything from the servers. Oh and emailing screenshots around.

And let us not forget that many students questioned the webcam light coming on and going off “randomly” and being told it was just a software glitch and they were working on it.

This case is a prime example of what happens when they think no one else is looking. Reasonable people raised concerns, and were told we’d never do that. And then they did everything they never said they would do. When caught they lied, destroyed evidence, found underlings to blame, and tried to get someone else to pay the piper for them. Hell I think they are getting ready to run for Congress.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133583 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133583 If it makes you feel any better, I'm 31 and did the same thing. If it makes you feel any better, I’m 31 and did the same thing.

]]> By: wrybread http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133588 wrybread Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133588 I'm glad they lessened the trauma by showing all the pictures to his parents. Because that's not every teenager's worst nightmare or anything. I’m glad they lessened the trauma by showing all the pictures to his parents. Because that’s not every teenager’s worst nightmare or anything.

]]> By: halfacre http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133844 halfacre Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133844 Bingo. And, I expect that the latest lawsuit is nothing more than an after-the-fact attempt to rake the school district for more money. BoingBoing perspective: Individual uses built in camera to retrieve stolen laptop -- BRILLIANT! School district uses built in camera to retrieve stolen laptop -- LOATHSOME! Hypocrites. Bingo. And, I expect that the latest lawsuit is nothing more than an after-the-fact attempt to rake the school district for more money.

BoingBoing perspective: Individual uses built in camera to retrieve stolen laptop — BRILLIANT! School district uses built in camera to retrieve stolen laptop — LOATHSOME!

Hypocrites.

]]> By: chitchat06 http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133847 chitchat06 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133847 But the laptop from the school district wasn't stolen? But the laptop from the school district wasn’t stolen?

]]> By: querent http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133597 querent Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133597 Gorilla tape here. And an open source os, of course. Gorilla tape here. And an open source os, of course.

]]> By: Chris Tucker http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133853 Chris Tucker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133853 Why, yes. Yes, it is! Thank you for noticing. Why, yes. Yes, it is!

Thank you for noticing.

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133599 teapot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133599 I'm happy I came from the time before school-issued PCs were the norm. I don't know whether to laugh or cry about these stories. People who have been hit by bullshit like this need to make public the details of the applications used to spy on them so counter-spy tools can be developed. There also needs to be some hacktivist reprocussions against asshole schools who want to spy on their students. I’m happy I came from the time before school-issued PCs were the norm.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry about these stories. People who have been hit by bullshit like this need to make public the details of the applications used to spy on them so counter-spy tools can be developed. There also needs to be some hacktivist reprocussions against asshole schools who want to spy on their students.

]]> By: caseyd http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133600 caseyd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133600 ( ... well over 40 and video chat has been part of my personal and professional life for over a decade ) I hope that this is teaching kids to take control of the technologies they currently have available. Someone send this kid Cory's YA book, please? ( … well over 40 and video chat has been part of my personal and professional life for over a decade )

I hope that this is teaching kids to take control of the technologies they currently have available. Someone send this kid Cory’s YA book, please?

]]> By: quickbrownfox http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133601 quickbrownfox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133601 Beyond the fact of the privacy violation, which is outrageous, I am appalled that these administrators somehow thought they wouldn't be sued back to the stone age for this. What could they possibly have been thinking? I mean, seriously. Effing morons. Beyond the fact of the privacy violation, which is outrageous, I am appalled that these administrators somehow thought they wouldn’t be sued back to the stone age for this. What could they possibly have been thinking? I mean, seriously. Effing morons.

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133602 Jake0748 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133602 W. T. F. ???????? So it's OK now for school districts to spy on kids? This stupid country (Yes, the USA. Yes, I live here) used to stand for something good. So now we have this, REALLY?? I am getting so fucking angry about this kind of bullshit. Wow. Just sweet jumping Jesus. What the hell is wrong with people? "They" - (you know, conservatives, republicans, teapartiers, family-values people) want to cut all public/government services to the bone. But there's still enough in the budget for this kind of shit. I am about ready to go down in flames protesting this sort of horror. I can't remember when I've been this angry. W. T. F. ????????

So it’s OK now for school districts to spy on kids? This stupid country (Yes, the USA. Yes, I live here) used to stand for something good. So now we have this, REALLY?? I am getting so fucking angry about this kind of bullshit. Wow. Just sweet jumping Jesus. What the hell is wrong with people?

“They” – (you know, conservatives, republicans, teapartiers, family-values people) want to cut all public/government services to the bone. But there’s still enough in the budget for this kind of shit.

I am about ready to go down in flames protesting this sort of horror. I can’t remember when I’ve been this angry.

]]> By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133858 IronEdithKidd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133858 There is a chasm of difference between an individual (whom the police didn't want to help) finding the crook who swipped his laptop using the camera and tracking software, and a government institution snapping pics willy-nilly of a minor in his bedroom. But, hey, maybe your hipocracy meter is set to hair-trigger. There is a chasm of difference between an individual (whom the police didn’t want to help) finding the crook who swipped his laptop using the camera and tracking software, and a government institution snapping pics willy-nilly of a minor in his bedroom.

But, hey, maybe your hipocracy meter is set to hair-trigger.

]]> By: caseyd http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133603 caseyd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133603 "in loco parentis" is being applied to cyberspace. “in loco parentis” is being applied to cyberspace.

]]> By: halfacre http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133860 halfacre Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133860 In the previous lawsuit, the laptop was stolen, and the willy-nilly pics were taken to recover it. And yeah, I forgot, neighborhood school == big bad "government institution." In the previous lawsuit, the laptop was stolen, and the willy-nilly pics were taken to recover it.

And yeah, I forgot, neighborhood school == big bad “government institution.”

]]> By: quickbrownfox http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133606 quickbrownfox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133606 It is patently ridiculous, but we have a long tradition in this country of bad-apple school administrators engaging in ridiculous shit like this. Now they're just better equipped. As long as the courts are still working the way they're supposed to, I would hesitate before writing off the entire country. These idiots will pay—and have already paid—dearly for this. It is patently ridiculous, but we have a long tradition in this country of bad-apple school administrators engaging in ridiculous shit like this. Now they’re just better equipped. As long as the courts are still working the way they’re supposed to, I would hesitate before writing off the entire country. These idiots will pay—and have already paid—dearly for this.

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133607 Jake0748 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133607 I always thought that "in loco parentis" applied to colleges and maybe boarding schools. I didn't think it applied to local school districts where the student lives at home, with his actual parents. Correct me if I'm wrong. I always thought that “in loco parentis” applied to colleges and maybe boarding schools. I didn’t think it applied to local school districts where the student lives at home, with his actual parents.
Correct me if I’m wrong.

]]> By: halfacre http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133863 halfacre Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133863 Some more from <a href"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/08/joshua-levin-lawsuit-merion-spying-laptops_n_873308.html">Huffpo</a> <i>District spokesman Doug Young told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Levin had refused the district's attempts to resolve his complaint without legal action. Young said Levin's lawsuit is "solely motivated by monetary interests and a complete waste of tax dollars."</i> Just another viewpoint. Some more from Huffpo

District spokesman Doug Young told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Levin had refused the district’s attempts to resolve his complaint without legal action. Young said Levin’s lawsuit is “solely motivated by monetary interests and a complete waste of tax dollars.”

Just another viewpoint.

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133612 Jake0748 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133612 I hope you're right Fox. From your mouth to ???'s ears. Thank you. I hope you’re right Fox. From your mouth to ???’s ears. Thank you.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133613 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133613 <i>In loco parentis</i> applies whenever your parents are out of spitting distance and someone else is charged with your care. But maybe not in your bedroom at home, particularly since your parents probably aren't even spying on you there. In loco parentis applies whenever your parents are out of spitting distance and someone else is charged with your care. But maybe not in your bedroom at home, particularly since your parents probably aren’t even spying on you there.

]]> By: chgoliz http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133870 chgoliz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133870 There seem to be thousands of photos snapped of quite a few students, which does not correlate well to the claim that the software is used merely to retrieve stolen school property. Unfortunately for the school officials, I have a suspicion that parents of students in "Pennsylvania's affluent Lower Merion School District" know a good lawyer or two. There seem to be thousands of photos snapped of quite a few students, which does not correlate well to the claim that the software is used merely to retrieve stolen school property.

Unfortunately for the school officials, I have a suspicion that parents of students in “Pennsylvania’s affluent Lower Merion School District” know a good lawyer or two.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133616 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133616 Supposedly, from what I'm told by those I know who work in ordinary taxpayer funded Middle America K-12 schools, they consider that whenever the child is under their supervision, and the parent is not present, in loco parentis applies and the school has any/all authority of the parent over the child. Supposedly, from what I’m told by those I know who work in ordinary taxpayer funded Middle America K-12 schools, they consider that whenever the child is under their supervision, and the parent is not present, in loco parentis applies and the school has any/all authority of the parent over the child.

]]> By: halfacre http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133872 halfacre Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133872 ...and yes, my hypocrisy-meter has been on a hair-trigger lately, most likely it's been over sensitized by the deafening cognitive dissonance emanating from the far right. Normally I can look to BoingBoing for a soothing dose of humor and discussion, but the current post seems closed to any form of reasonable debate. …and yes, my hypocrisy-meter has been on a hair-trigger lately, most likely it’s been over sensitized by the deafening cognitive dissonance emanating from the far right. Normally I can look to BoingBoing for a soothing dose of humor and discussion, but the current post seems closed to any form of reasonable debate.

]]> By: caseyd http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133619 caseyd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133619 yep, and just where is that place where the extended sensoria of a school's agency is? yep, and just where is that place where the extended sensoria of a school’s agency is?

]]> By: delt664 http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133876 delt664 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133876 It seems to me that theres a good possibility that this is a pissed off parent who wants to have his day in court to publicly punish the district. A win in court would also set a legal precedent that no, this is not okay. If I was involved in this, that would be my ultimate goal. Any money that came in would be split between a college fund and donations to the EFF. It seems to me that theres a good possibility that this is a pissed off parent who wants to have his day in court to publicly punish the district. A win in court would also set a legal precedent that no, this is not okay.

If I was involved in this, that would be my ultimate goal. Any money that came in would be split between a college fund and donations to the EFF.

]]> By: halfacre http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133881 halfacre Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133881 Maybe parents should teach their kids not to steal instead, and should stop protecting them when they do. Maybe parents should teach their kids not to steal instead, and should stop protecting them when they do.

]]> By: halfacre http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1134138 halfacre Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1134138 Partly. But BoingBoing is also indulging itself a bit too much in self-righteous indignity over public use of techniques available to small-time technocrats (like me.) I think this attitude is (at least in part) out of fear that our little bit of power in the world being used against us by that big bad hegemony of bean counters and librarians and school administrators. Plus the public ruling is unclear about whether Robbins pinched the laptop, or not. Luckily for him, that question will likely go unanswered in the wake of astonishing ineptitude on the part of the school district. Partly. But BoingBoing is also indulging itself a bit too much in self-righteous indignity over public use of techniques available to small-time technocrats (like me.) I think this attitude is (at least in part) out of fear that our little bit of power in the world being used against us by that big bad hegemony of bean counters and librarians and school administrators.

Plus the public ruling is unclear about whether Robbins pinched the laptop, or not. Luckily for him, that question will likely go unanswered in the wake of astonishing ineptitude on the part of the school district.

]]> By: SuperDragonMaster79 http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133627 SuperDragonMaster79 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133627 There's a little green LED hardwired to the iSights. I always enjoy destroying those who turn my camera on. There’s a little green LED hardwired to the iSights. I always enjoy destroying those who turn my camera on.

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2011/06/08/lower-merion-student.html#comment-1133634 Jake0748 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133634 So... NOT when the kid is is his/her own bedroom at home, under the supervision of his/her actual parents or guardians, RIGHT? God, I'm so glad I don't have kids right now, subjected to this kind of thing. I'd be on my way to jail for ripping a bunch of new ones. :( So… NOT when the kid is is his/her own bedroom at home, under the supervision of his/her actual parents or guardians, RIGHT?

God, I’m so glad I don’t have kids right now, subjected to this kind of thing. I’d be on my way to jail for ripping a bunch of new ones. :(

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