Friday, May 8, 2015

Student Privacy Bill Needs Your Help Now! - And We Are Not Asking For Support.... Here is why

Over the past year, many parents have worked hard on getting the Education - Student Data Privacy Act of 2015 passed in the State of Maryland (HB0298).
THE EXCITING NEWS.... IT PASSED!
THE BAD NEWS... WE DON'T WANT IT SIGNED INTO LAW!
Our original efforts were focused on protecting our children from what MCPS has allowed in their contracts with the many third party technology companies - to data mine our children, resell the information collected, advertisement profile, etc...
The end result of Delegate Kaiser's hard work... is a watered down Bill that will DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.  
The first draft had some teeth to it (even though not as good as the one passed in California) and we applaud the efforts of Delegate Kaiser putting forth the original Bill. Unfortunately, technology companies spent thousands ($$$) and lobbied hard against the Bill, to water it down so much that IT WILL DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD, if Governor Hogan signs it into law.
Please read a recent OP Ed piece from the Baltimore Sun for all the reasons to Veto the Bill:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-common-sense-veto-20150506-story.html 
Time is not on our side.  It could be signed into law any day now.  Please take less than one minute to Governor Hogan to NOT sign the Bill into Law.
[cut and past the note below into the Governor's contact form found here: http://governor.maryland.gov/mail/default.asp 

Dear Governor Hogan,

Please do not sign the Student Privacy Act of 2015 into law.  It does not protect our children.

Thank you,

[Your signature/name]

Contact Governor Larry Hogan

  • Mail:
  • 100 State Circle
  • Annapolis, Maryland
  • 21401-1925
  • Phone:
  • 410-974-3901
  • 1-800-811-8336



5 comments:

  1. Tell me you are kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a mess.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Could you detail in very short understandable terms what changes were made and how it undermines protections for kids?

    ReplyDelete
  3. The bill also fails to cover a huge number of ed-tech companies operating in Maryland schools without contracts, affording absolutely no protection to tons of sensitive student information.

    Just found this:

    As currently written, HB 298 gives companies license and legal cover to target ads to children and their families based on the sensitive information they collect in the classroom. The bill would permit these companies to provide a notice to parents about their intended use or disclosure of students' personal information and give the parents a "Hobson's choice" — either they "consent" or else their children won't be able to use the school-sanctioned site or service.

    What are the names of these companies operating in the schools?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Producing educated consumers, one child at the time.

    ReplyDelete
  5. "IT WILL DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD"
    Isn't this the motto of the part-time legislature?

    ReplyDelete

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