Googles denies EFF allegations that it has violated student privacy

[Jeff Causey]

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In a recent complaint to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has alleged that Google is violating student privacy by collecting and data mining student information obtained through Chromebooks used by schools. The EFF says the Chrome Sync feature, which is turned on by default on Chromebooks and is available through the Chrome browser, is being used improperly in violation of Google’s promises and FTC prohibitions against deceptive business practices. Google says the EFF is off base with their allegations and Chrome Sync is a benefit for students with no connection to advertising or data mining on Google’s part.

Google points out that Chromebooks or the Chrome browser used in an educational setting are configured to use the Google Apps for Education suite of tools. Those include items like Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar and Sites. Google spokesperson Jonathan Rochelle notes that “There are no ads in these Core Services, and student data in these services is not used for advertising purposes.” Instead, the feature is made available so that students can seamlessly move between school provided laptops and their own personal computers.

The EFF complaint does not appear to include any specific allegations that data mining or advertising has actually been conducted against student data. The EFF seems to be more concerned with the fact that student information is transmitted to and then stored on Google servers, which Google could then access for the nefarious purposes the EFF alleges.

Meanwhile, one of the creators of the Student Privacy Pledge that Google is a party to, along with Microsoft and Apple, has come down on the side of Google in the dispute. The Future of Privacy Forum executive director Jules Polonetsky issued a statement saying,

“We have reviewed the EFF complaint but do not believe it has merit. Chrome Sync is a setting within the control of the school IT administrator, and can also be changed by parents or students. This feature allows students to log in at home or at a library and have access to their school bookmarks, favorites and other settings. We don’t believe the complaint raises any issues about data use that are restricted by the Student Privacy Pledge.”
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Do you think the EFF has a legitimate gripe in this case?

source: Fortune


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