School Laptops Could Spy on Students

I honestly don’t know who’s crazier, the school for implementing a policy like this or parents who just accepted it. Basically, Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania installed a program on all of its laptops which could be used to spy on students.

The program is used to track and trace stolen laptops but could potentially be used to spy on students at home. Basically, if the principal decided to turn on the tracking for a specific laptop (only supposed to be done if the laptop is stolen) then the web cam begins taking pictures and screenshots are also taken. These are then sent back to the principal. What I’m wondering is how this is any different than hacking into someone’s computer, remotely turning on their web cam and spying on them?

The school policies are even more frightening:

• possession of a monitored MacBook was required for classes, and possession of an unmonitored personal computer was forbidden and would be confiscated.
• disabling the camera is impossible

The case is now on its way to court and I hope for the safety of the children, and just their own peace of mind that they can’t be tracked and spied on, this stupid program is abolished.