The Unbelievable Ways Schools Are Now Monitoring Children -- Even What They're Eating

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/unbelievable-ways-schools-are-now-monitoring-children-even-what-theyre-eating



The digital tracking and surveillance of school-aged kids has been growing.

Much attention has been given to the phenomenon of corporate tracking of kids’ online activities, activities that violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The law, originally adopted in 1998, requires Web sites aimed at kids to get parental consent before gathering information about those users who are under 13 years. Many companies, including a Disney subsidiary, have violated it. Corporate marketing interests, most notably Facebook, are fighting proposed revisions to COPPA.

A second front in the tracking of young people has gotten far less attention. Schools across the country are adopting a variety of different tools to monitor students both in school and outside school. Among these tools are RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags embedded in school ID cards, GPS tracking software in computers, and even CCTV video camera systems. According to school authorities, these tools are being adopted not to simply increase security, but to prevent truancy, cut down on theft and even improve students' eating habits.

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The RFID tag system popularly known as "Tag and Track" is being sold to schools system across the country by a variety of vendors, including AIM Truancy Solutions, ID Card Group and DataCard.

[Fumesucker]

1. If you've done nothing wrong then you have nothing to hide..

Indeed, I've seen approving discussion right here on DU of monitoring student's eating habits.