AFT Statement on Privacy and Security Concerns
about inBloom and Other Data Collection Efforts
Washington—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on the growing privacy and security concerns regarding inBloom's database and other data collection efforts by parents, teachers and others. The AFT has sent the funders of inBloom a letter requesting clarification on many of these concerns.
"Any potential inBloom has to improve and personalize learning is being overshadowed by a growing lack of public trust in its early communications and operations, and genuine concerns about the security, privacy, sharing and exploitation of data. The AFT raised many of these issues originally, and we, along with parents and teachers, continue to have many concerns about the privacy and security of student and teacher data. We have sent a letter to the funders of inBloom seeking clarification.
"These privacy and security concerns go well beyond inBloom. With a growing marketplace emerging for data collection, storage, analysis and monetization—both for good and for ill—we must be more vigilant than ever about the privacy and security rights of students, teachers and the American people. The rights and responsibilities of parents, students, teachers and school officials in protecting sensitive data, and in determining how others can use that data, must be transparent and well-regulated, and city, state and federal officials have key roles to play."
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten