Episode 14: Edtech Privacy Parents: Heidi, USA

Welcome back to our special series focusing on a pressing issue: safeguarding our children’s digital privacy within schools. In this episode, we hear from Heidi Saas, a privacy and technology lawyer who became a proactive parent advocate, determined to protect her children’s digital lives from potentially intrusive educational technologies.

Heidi's Path to Advocacy

Heidi tells us how her interest in privacy and edtech grew personal as her children reached an age where school-mandated technology became unavoidable. When the school insisted on device usage, Heidi’s expertise in the industry made her wary. She investigated the devices provided by the school and uncovered concerning privacy oversights, such as pre-registering users with apps collecting data without informed consent.

Unveiling the Privacy Risks

When Heidi found that her child’s data was being handled without explicit approval, it ignited her determination to address these invasive practices. She describes a marketplace where companies capitalize on educational technologies at the expense of students’ privacy, exploiting a lack of regulatory enforcement on digital data usage in schools.

Educating and Empowering Others

Heidi stresses the importance of parental involvement, both in understanding and challenging the data practices of educational tools. Her advocacy led her to collaborate with other concerned parents, tech experts, and organizations worldwide to push back against unchecked data collection in schools. She emphasizes educating parents and schools about creating a rigorous vetting process for adopting technology, ensuring accountability and transparency.

The Fight for Transparency

Highlighting the often hidden nature of data flows, Heidi argues for the necessity of regular audits and independent testing of educational tools. She points to a significant gap in knowledge and resources within school systems, which leaves them susceptible to the manipulations of vendors with vested interests. She advocates for reforms, emphasizing the need for clearer, more defined regulations protecting students’ data.

Engaging the Next Generation

We also discuss the fact that children today are more digitally adept and privacy-conscious than they appear and can be an important part of bringing about positive change. Empowering kids to understand and question how educational tools impact their privacy is crucial. By fostering a dialogue with young people, parents can encourage them to take charge of their digital futures.

Conclusion: A Collective Stand for Privacy

Heidi’s journey underscores the vital role that all stakeholders play in scrutinizing the impact of technology in classrooms. It’s a call to action for all parents and the students themselves to scrutinize their children’s school digital policies, engage with schools transparently, and demand safe practices for handling personal data. As technology further integrates into education, it’s imperative that we prioritize the protection of children’s data privacy. By sharing Heidi’s experience (and hopefully your own) we can collectively advocate for an education system that places the well-being and privacy of children above all else. For guidance, resources, or to share your experiences, we invite you to reach out. Together, we can champion a secure digital future for our children.