New Mexico Sues Google For Allegedly Spying On Children In Classrooms
Rachel Sandler
Rachel SandlerForbes Staff
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2020/02/20/new-mexico-sues-google-for-allegedly-spying-on-children-in-classrooms/?utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=social&utm_content=3145041783&utm_campaign=sprinklrForbesMainTwitter#258616fc47fd
Topline: The state of New Mexico sued Google on Thursday for allegedly collecting personal data from children through Google-powered laptops and software in classrooms, adding to the complaints and legal actions already taken against the company for violating privacy rights of students.
The lawsuit accuses Google of “spying” on students by mining data through a program providing Google Chromebook laptops and Google Education accounts, which include GMail, Calendar and Google Drive, to school districts for free.
The company collected data about students’ physical locations, browsing history, search history, videos watched on YouTube, personal contact lists, voice recordings, saved passwords and other behavioral information, the lawsuit alleges.
The state says Google collects such data for commercial purposes, violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, a federal law prohibiting companies from using data on children under 13 without parent permission.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas told schools there is no immediate harm in continuing use of Google products and that the lawsuit should not interrupt daily instruction.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
BOOM
Google gots to GO.