Warnings that some popular education apps may gather more information than is needed for learning.
Parents are being advised to check what data classroom apps are collecting from their children as the new school year begins.
Ben Austin, CEO of Absolute Digital Media, said many education technology (edtech) tools gather more information than is needed for learning purposes, including location data, browsing habits, and even emotional recognition from pupils.
Their review of widely used apps found some track students through webcams, monitor their writing style, and log every website they visit while signed in.
Austin cautioned that while these tools can support learning, the data is often also used for commercial purposes, such as marketing or product development. “Children have no meaningful way to opt out of this surveillance if the school has adopted these technologies,” he said.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued guidance reminding edtech providers that they must comply with the UK’s Children’s code when handling data beyond a school’s core instructions.
Austin recommended parents ask schools which apps are in use, what information they collect, and how long it is stored. He added that the best apps are transparent about their practices and keep data collection to a minimum.
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Dan Raywood is a B2B journalist with 25 years of experience, including covering cybersecurity for the past 17 years. He has extensively covered topics from Advanced Persistent Threats and nation-state hackers to major data breaches and regulatory changes.
He has spoken at events including 44CON, Infosecurity Europe, RANT Forum, BSides Scotland, Steelcon and the National Cyber Security Show, and served as editor of SC Media UK, Infosecurity Magazine and IT Security Guru. He was also an analyst with 451 Research and a product marketing lead at Tenable.
