Ask Slashdot: Explaining Cloud Privacy Risks To K-12 Teachers? 168
hyperorbiter writes "With the advent of Google Apps for Education, there has been a massive uptake by the K12 schools I deal with on signing students up with their own Google powered email address under the school domain. In addition, the students' work when using Google Apps is stored offshore and out of our control — with no explicit comeback if TOS are breached by Google. It seems to me that the school cannot with integrity maintain it has control over the data and its use. I have expressed a concern that it is unethical to use these services without informing the students' parents of what is at stake e.g. the students are getting a digital footprint from the age of seven and are unaware of the implications this may have later in life. The response has often been that I'm over-reacting and that the benefits of the services far outweigh the concerns, so rather than risk knee jerk reactions by parents (a valid concern) and thereby hampering 'education', it's better to not bring this stuff up. My immediate issue isn't so much about the use of the cloud services now, but the ethics over lack of disclosure in the parental consent process. Does anyone have ideas about defining the parameters of 'informed consent' where we inform of risks without bringing about paranoia? (Google Apps is just an example here, I think it applies to many cloud services.)"
Data May Be *Safer* Overseas (Score:3, Insightful)
First, make sure *you* understand the implications (Score:5, Insightful)
If you can't articulate what the implications are of using Google Apps for Education, then at least one of the following is true.
1) You don't actually have sufficient understanding of the situation
2) You're the wrong person to attempt being the spokesperson for the "opposition"
You need to be able to articulate your specific concerns regarding use of the service - not just make hand waving statements. If its bad that students have a "digital footprint" from age seven, explain *why*. And, even then, be aware that others may not share your concern (or may have adopted a fatalistic attitude about the situation).
Re:First, make sure *you* understand the implicati (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't forget the bit about posting comments insulting religious or political views, and then potential employers not hireing you over it. The annoying thing is it can't be proven: If an employer looks you up and finds you've been insulting his religion, he isn't going to give that as the reason in your rejection letter - you'll just get a generic form rejection saying 'your application has not been successful on this occasion.' It probably happens all the time.
Re:What *are* the implications? (Score:2, Insightful)
Ethics be damned. It's our job to indoctrinate - errr, EDUCATE - these kids, as efficiently as possible, while wasting as much money as possible.
If we start warning parents and children that there may be consequences involved in our indoctrination courses, they may very well start questioning authority.
Where would THAT get us?