<p>Public schools in Baltimore are monitoring student activities online using software that recognizes certain words and phrases that then alert school officials that a student may be contemplating suicide.</p>
<p>The Baltimore Sun <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-laptops-monitoring-20211012-a2j3vsytijhhjj36n57ri5zdhi-story.html">called</a> the surveillance system “controversial,” adding that it was added to laptops during the pandemic, when students were using school computers at home.</p>
<p>“Since March, nine students have been identified through GoGuardian’s Beacon software as having a severe mental health crisis and were taken to an emergency room, according to Stacey Davis, the city schools coordinator of media and instructional technology. In at least two of those cases, the students had never had any mental health care,” the Sun reported.</p>
<p>Two recent reports cast doubt on the system, warning that it could be used to discipline for their private online activities and limit students’ free speech. The reports also noted that LGBTQ students could be unintentionally outed by use of the surveillance system.</p>
<p>Elizabeth Laird, director of equity in civic technology at the Center for Democracy and Technology in Washington, co-authored one of the reports and told the Sun that “Privacy and equity was not being considered as much as it needs to be.”</p>
<p>GoGuardian has been used before for monitoring students’ online activity, but not for mental health issues. School officials told the Sun that they were trying to build relationships with students using the software.</p>
<p>The Sun’s editorial board published <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-1013-schools-monitoring-kids-online-20211012-7fglo2hdyrhilmqjmfu52qe76i-story.html">an article</a> raising concerns about the software:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>The city system apparently has no policies in place to govern what can — and can’t — be monitored on its thousands of devices. It has <a href="https://therealnews.com/cops-in-baltimore-schools-are-monitoring-students-laptops">sent police to children’s homes</a> in response to their use of certain self-harm-related keywords, as The Real News Network noted earlier this month. And the surveillance undoubtedly targets lower-income families, who are more likely to use school-issued computers instead of their own, personal devices.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>School Police Chief Akil Hamm told the Sun that many families who were contacted due to alerts from the software were grateful to learn about their children’s mental health concerns.</p>
<p>“But it doesn’t alleviate our other concerns, including the potential for 4th amendment violations involving warrantless searches. If this software usage is to continue in this way, we’d much prefer to see social workers and psychologists responding to red flags, rather than armed officers,” the editorial board wrote.</p>
<p>Baltimore is not the only place monitoring student online activity. Other school districts in Maryland have increased monitoring during the pandemic, mostly to ensure students are doing their assignments. Schools in Rhode Island also have monitoring software, and teachers in the state can view student activity and even access the cameras, according to <a href="https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-ri-report-shows-alarming-lack-privacy-protection-students-school-loaned">a report</a> from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU’s report found:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>23 districts explicitly advise students and parents that they have no expectation of privacy when in possession of the device.  </em></li>
<li><em>23 districts give school officials the authority to access the contents of a school-loaned device for any reason and with no notice. </em></li>
<li><em>24 districts allow officials to access the microphone or camera on a school-loaned device at any time. </em></li>
</ul>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Baltimore Schools Are Tracking Kids’ Online Activity

CONTINUE READING

‘Dangerous Precedent’: Court Sides With University Over Jury in False Rape Defamation Case

Trevor Bauer Wins Lawsuit Against False Accuser. Will The MLB Take Him Back?

Trump Admin Bans Illegal Immigrants From Getting Taxpayer-Backed Mortgages

Texas Man Arrested After Video Allegedly Shows Him Ramming ATV Into Tesla

Kristi Noem Tours El Salvador’s Gang Prison Before Threatening To Deport More Criminals

Columbia Anti-Israel Group Reactivated Instagram Account Just Before Oct. 7 Attack, Lawsuit Says

News

Baltimore

Children

Education

Surveillance

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Baltimore Schools Are Tracking Kids’ Online Activity