School IT allegedly took "thousands" of pics in webcam case

[The_Dude 1,142]

Not to defend Paul because I think he can do that himself just fine, it just grates on me when something's dismissed as 'rwn'. It's easy to dismiss something away as crazy or whatever just because you may not agree with it/want to diminish its validity/etc. Obviously his comment is at least coming true in the UK, so it's not really that far fetched, is it?

Back on topic though; I'd like to see there be jail time. You're right, it's not going to be an easy sell at all, but at the end of the day, IF there's a history of the kids on their cams and them being half naked or what have you, I think the fact that there would be more than one instance of that before this 'program' was disbanded, that would be sufficient proof. But what I'd like to see, and what I do see, are two completely different things at times. Heh

I dismiss blatantly moronic statements out of hand because they are just that. I have lived in the UK before and seen the cameras there first hand. They are nothing like the imbecilic fears that some RWN have that socialists are going to install cameras in their homes and monitor their every move, or install some secret chemical in the water supply so that they can monitor your movements. Sometimes it's just political exaggeration or rhetoric, but far too often i'm finding that there are morons who actually believe this #######.

[Ali G. 37]

The mistake was obvious, the IT department should never have ordered laptops with webcams in them. When it comes it any other logging, well they are government property and should be rightfully monitored. I have been here long enough to know that if a student did use a laptop for inappropriate actives, it would (by default) be made out to be the school's fault. Never ever the child or the parent.

[The_Dude 1,142]

The mistake was obvious, the IT department should never have ordered laptops with webcams in them. When it comes it any other logging, well they are government property and should be rightfully monitored. I have been here long enough to know that if a student did use a laptop for inappropriate actives, it would (by default) be made out to be the school's fault. Never ever the child or the parent.

The real crime was giving these kids Macbooks. They spent too much for too little computer

[Fandango 1,440]

I dismiss blatantly moronic statements out of hand because they are just that. I have lived in the UK before and seen the cameras there first hand. They are nothing like the imbecilic fears that some RWN have that socialists are going to install cameras in their homes and monitor their every move, or install some secret chemical in the water supply so that they can monitor your movements. Sometimes it's just political exaggeration or rhetoric, but far too often i'm finding that there are morons who actually believe this #######.

But that's the thing....I think maybe 10-15 years ago, this ####### sounds as far fetched as the Jetsons and flying cars, but nowadays, I do find it to be a complete breach of privacy for the school to even attempt to have a 'valid' defense. For me, it does try to blur the lines of privacy, and at the end of the day, where DOES it end? I have no idea. Sometimes, it is political exaggeration and rhetoric, but other times, it isn't. As a person in my mid 30s, I still remember card catalogs at the library, and couldn't even fathom something like google. We live in a great time, where anything is possible, and I think that extends to the gov't as well.

I think the fact of bickering and one-upping someone whom you don't like personally makes it an easy cheap shot (on both sides, mind you)....but these dismissals of 'RWN' are polarizing, and quite frankly, do not give the respect to others' views that you would (I assume) want for your own.

Just my .02 *shrug*.

[Ali G. 37]

I dismiss blatantly moronic statements out of hand because they are just that. I have lived in the UK before and seen the cameras there first hand. They are nothing like the imbecilic fears that some RWN have that socialists are going to install cameras in their homes and monitor their every move, or install some secret chemical in the water supply so that they can monitor your movements. Sometimes it's just political exaggeration or rhetoric, but far too often i'm finding that there are morons who actually believe this #######.

Just think of how many homicide, rapes, assault investigations would be aided if various public streets and areas around schools and communities had camera surveillance; Particularly, in crime hot-spots. A hell of a lot of people go missing or end up dead in this country yet a handful of key cameras would have greatly aided any investigation.

This fear-mongering that 'the government' is going to peep into people's houses is baseless paranoia and serves no purpose for a community. In reality, careful and reasonable use of technology has aided in keeping communities safe throughout the developed world. Proactive and computerized monitoring of the highways and roads could save and prevent a lot of kids and women from being kidnapped throughout America.

The real crime was giving these kids Macbooks. They spent too much for too little computer

They were macs? What happened to the OS being ultra secure? Heck, with windows 7, it's extremely hard to even willingly want to open up ports.

[The_Dude 1,142]

What I really don't get is this warped perception of what "privacy" is. I see a lot of like minded people whom you would generally consider conservative protest about cameras on city streets, but when it comes to personal data on the internet, will chalk up a company selling off collected data as "capitalism at its finest". I really don't get that. I see cameras in the street as a crime fighting tool that has worked very well in Europe, not some covert spying program to further indoctrinate. I have a much bigger problem with Facebook selling my online activity to 3rd party marketers.

[Ali G. 37]

What I really don't get is this warped perception of what "privacy" is. I see a lot of like minded people whom you would generally consider conservative protest about cameras on city streets, but when it comes to personal data on the internet, will chalk up a company selling off collected data as "capitalism at its finest". I really don't get that. I see cameras in the street as a crime fighting tool that has worked very well in Europe, not some covert spying program to further indoctrinate. I have a much bigger problem with Facebook selling my online activity to 3rd party marketers.

This one of the few times we agree. It's mindboggling to me that in the US so many people absolutely detest the government knowing even their name and are paranoid about cameras on street corners. Yet strangely enough, have no qualms with random and often unknown private companies data mining, storing and trading information about us. Data mining is not only illegal in AUS and Canada but punishable by hefty prison sentences and fines. Without my explicit (written) permission, no private company can trade or sell my information to any other company period. Canada goes one step further and has private companies completely remove your information - once you stop dealing with them. That is rightfully what every American should be worried about.

I am more than happy to have a computerized surveillance camera in my street. If I was robbed or someone was a victim of crime, the police would be greatly aided by it. Such surveillance doesn't invade my privacy the slightest but is an extremely useful tool in not only preventing crime but assisting in catching the perpetrators. For example, there was a train station in Melbourne that was notorious for crime. Consequently, every square foot of that station was covered with cameras. Crime is now non-existent there. The few dumb enough to try were quickly apprehended. End result was that the bad guys lose and the community, often in poorer areas, wins. It's the same deal with government housing there. They don't have anywhere near US style crime problems as they are now extensively monitored.

Can the technology be abused, yes but what can't? I'd rather have the tools available and punish the few that abuse then, then not have it at all.

Edited April 19, 2010 by Ali G.