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Surveillance of Children Using Webcams
P. John made this Freedom of Information request to Department for Children, Schools and Families
The request was partially successful.
From: P. John
27 February 2010
Dear Department for Children, Schools and Families,
In the America, remote monitoring of childrens behaviour while
using school supplied equipment is presently the cause of some
significant controversy.
In the video linked below (*) an Assistant Principal is shown
covertly monitoring children. He says "So I click and there's an
'observe' button and it brings up [a childs] screen... Photo booth
is always fun. A lot of kids are on it just to check their hair. Do
their makeup the girls. You know. Just use it like a mirror... They
don't even realise that we're watching. I always like to mess with
them, and take a picture". When the surveillance is revealed, a
shocked child is shown hiding their face from the camera.
As a parent, such offensive and repugnant conduct by people who are
trusted with the care and education of children causes me
considerable concern.
Particularly so while companies like Phorm (who engaged in illegal
covert web surveillance with BT Internet) remain members of the UK
Council for Child Internet Safety.
Please could you tell me;
- what policy/restrictions/guidance have DCSF issued to UK schools
in the private and state sector limiting or requiring the use of
remote monitoring software to observe children's behaviour inside
and outside of school premises?
- under what circumstances (inside or outside school) are educators
entitled to monitor students using computer surveillance software?
- under what circumstances (inside or outside school) are educators
entitled to remotely monitor children using web cams or
microphones?
- how many UK schools/LEAs have installed remote monitoring
software with this capability, and what age groups are affected
- what information is given by schools/LEAs to children and parents
about such surveillance
Yours faithfully,
P John
(*) See 4mins 42 seconds into this video clip;
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/...
From: P. John
31 March 2010
Dear Department for Children, Schools and Families,
a reminder, by law, you should have responded promptly and not
later than 29 March 2010.
I will make a complaint to the ICO if I don't receive a response in
the next 48 hrs.
Yours faithfully,
P. John
Department for Children, Schools and Families
23 April 2010
Dear Mr John,
Thank you for your email dated 27 February about remote monitoring of
children in schools. I am sorry not to have been able to provide an
earlier response.
We know that CCTV is used in some schools as a security measure to prevent
intrusion or as an entry control. Some schools also use CCTV to maintain
good behaviour and reduce any incidence of bad behaviour such as smoking,
bullying or vandalism in otherwise unsupervised areas such as toilets.
All CCTV use in this country is covered by the Data Protection Act 1998
(DPA). Under the DPA, schools and nurseries are required to register with
the Office of the Data Commissioner because they hold personal data on
pupils and parents. The same registration form is generally used to
register CCTV use.
It is for each individual school to decide whether the use of CCTV cameras
in classrooms or toilets is appropriate in their own circumstances.
However, this Department does not collect information on the names or
numbers of schools which use CCTV monitoring facilities.
If a school decides to install a CCTV camera in the toilets, they must
take care to ensure that the positioning of the camera does not encroach
on privacy. The school is also required to put up warning signs wherever
CCTV is used.
The Information Commissioner's Office issued a revised CCTV Code of
Practice in 2008. The code provides users with advice on making an
assessment of whether to use, or continue to use, CCTV. An assessment of
its use in behaviour management or the assessment of teacher performance
should be completed before registering the use of CCTV for these purposes.
Section 6 of the Code covers `Selecting and Siting the Cameras'. It
recommends that in areas where people have a heightened expectation of
privacy, such as changing rooms or toilet areas, cameras should only be
used in the most exceptional circumstances where it is necessary to deal
with very serious concerns. Bullying in toilets may be one such
exceptional circumstance. The Code recommends that in these cases,
schools should make an extra effort to ensure that those under
surveillance are aware.
Although this Department has not published specific guidance to schools on
the use of CCTV monitoring facilities, we would expect schools to keep all
in the school community fully informed about proposals for its use.
I hope this reply reassures you that where CCTV cameras are being used in
schools appropriate safeguards are in place to ensure the rights and
privacy of individuals are protected.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Laskier
Improving Behaviour and Attendance Unit
[email address]
[1]www.dcsf.gov.uk
Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number 2010/0016111.
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References
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1. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/
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