Peeping Tom Webcams
Harriton High School is Pennsylvania has been using laptop webcams for a new, unconventional reason, at least according to parents. One family has alleged that the school was using the webcam to spy on their fifteen year old son. Of course, this accusation has created a frenzy with the other parents, the school district, and civil liberties groups. One family submitted a motion to Judge Jan DuBois requesting a restraining order against the activation of the webcam which they refer to a “peeping tom technology”. The complaint further states that the school periodically turns on the cameras on the computers to monitor the student and their usage of the computer issued by the county and that “many of the images captured and intercepted may consist of images of minors and their parents or friends in compromising or embarrassing positions, including, but not limited to, in various stages of dress or undress.” The school has insisted that the camera is only turned on if the laptop was lost or stolen in order to find the missing equipment.
The Robbins’ motion was prompted by their son being accused by the assistant principle of Harriton High of taking and selling drugs. The student claims that he was eating candy but the school says that using images of the student from the webcam, they witnessed the drug handling. The Robbins said that their child was at home while using a computer that was not reported as lost or stolen and that pictures were taking of him without the permission of his parents while he was at home.
