Surveillance in Schools Across Europe: A New Phenomenon in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic? The Cases of Greece and France (original) (raw)
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Global Campus Human Rights Journal, 2020
In the digital era the privacy of children has become an issue of particular importance. With the spread of COVID-19 many schools turned to online education, causing this vulnerable group of internet users to be more and more engaged in the digital sphere. It has thus become questionable whether children are protected enough when education systems increasingly turn to online teaching. When Serbia declared a state of emergency in an attempt to contain the new virus in March 2020, the national educational system also implemented online schooling. Since there have been severe privacy breaches in Serbia even before this pandemic, a basic question arises as to whether the right to privacy of children was adequately respected and protected when the students were required to use a number of programmes, networks and applications in order to attend classes. This article investigates the right to privacy of children during the recent application of online teaching/learning technologies and platforms in Serbia, exploring key emerging issues concerning online schooling and identifying further research on problems pertaining to this right that will inevitably appear in the years to come.
Entity Of Privacy In The Era Of Technology
Journal of Contemporary Issues in Business and Government, 2021
The shifting sense of privacy from one social background to the next, notably in the eyes of the law, has been a persistent challenge. Technology when seen from the lens of privacy in educational institutions poses a significant threat to the safety and security of all, the most vulnerable and exposed being-young girls, female teachers with the threat of stalking and voyeurism. Furthermore, it is a flagrant breach of students' and teachers' right to privacy and freedom of speech and expression. Notably, there are no regulations or legislation in place to control the installation of surveillance and data collection devices like CCTV or other monitoring/ data collection equipment in Educational Institutes for the purposes of safety, security and regulation. The authors would also examine the above in terms of the right to privacy, necessity and legality. The authors will attempt to showcase reality on the ground along with legal landmarks to satisfy the object and rationale behind the research.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2013
In the wake of the disclosures surrounding PRISM and other US surveillance programmes, this study makes an assessment of the large-scale surveillance practices by a selection of EU member states: the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Given the large-scale nature of surveillance practices at stake, which represent a reconfiguration of traditional intelligence gathering, the study contends that an analysis of European surveillance programmes cannot be reduced to a question of balance between data protection versus national security, but has to be framed in terms of collective freedoms and democracy. It finds that four of the five EU member states selected for in-depth examination are engaging in some form of large-scale interception and surveillance of communication data, and identifies parallels and discrepancies between these programmes and the NSA-run operations. The study argues that these surveillance programmes do not stand outside the realm of EU intervention but can be engaged from an EU law perspective via (i) an understanding of national security in a democratic rule of law framework where fundamental human rights standards and judicial oversight constitute key standards; (ii) the risks presented to the internal security of the Union as a whole as well as the privacy of EU citizens as data owners, and (iii) the potential spillover into the activities and responsibilities of EU agencies. The study then presents a set of policy recommendations to the European Parliament. PE 493.032 EN This document was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
The Many Faces of Privacy Education in European Schools
Privacy education is already a reality in some schools in Europe. Strengthening this trend is a priority for many actors in the field. This contribution explores why this is so and investigates what can be learnt from the review of current practices. Therefore it first examines the reasons for teaching about privacy at schools and subsequently overviews and assesses the relevant eff orts undertaken thus far. It concludes that it is important to ensure children know about privacy not just to keep them safe, but primarily to help them grow as free individuals.
The European Handbook for Teaching Privacy and Data Protection at Schools
This handbook offers practical guidance and tools to teach privacy and personal data protection to children and teenagers at schools in Europe. It covers issues such as individual rights, online safety, digital identity, behavioural advertising, cyber bullying and parental surveillance, addressing them in a clear and sound manner. Teachers and education experts will find in it not only key relevant notions thoroughly explained, but also ideas for discussion, concrete exercises and useful tips adapted to different ages and school levels, as well as award-winning lesson plans. Privacy and data protection experts and professionals, including data protection authorities, will enjoy new insights on how to engage with privacy education and, more generally, on how to raise the awareness of minors on these issues. A Mini-Bill of Privacy and Data Protection Rights, a glossary and a list of resources are also provided.
Mass surveillance and data protection in the digital age
2018
The article considers the legitimacy of mass surveillance in the context of international human rights law and the existing mechanisms of protection of the right to respect for private life. The author notes that the problems concerning the protection of personal data of millions of people from mass surveillance should be solved both at the national and international levels. In this regard, covert surveillance is even more important in the context of the development of the Internet, as it is based on the creation of programmes and methods for monitoring the transmission of information online. Special attention is paid to data protection in global social networks, which are vulnerable and store personal data of billions of people. The article provides examples of case-law of the court of justice of the EU and the ECtHR on the protection of personal data. Further, based on the examples of some countries, the prospects for the creation of a new international instrument for the regulati...
Surveillance, Privacy and Security
Surveillance, Privacy and Security, 2017
This volume examines the relationship between privacy, surveillance and security, and the alleged privacy-security trade-off, focusing on the citizen's perspective. Recent revelations of mass surveillance programmes clearly demonstrate the everincreasing capabilities of surveillance technologies. The lack of serious reactions to these activities shows that the political will to implement them appears to be an unbroken trend. The resulting move into a surveillance society is, however, contested for many reasons. Are the resulting infringements of privacy and other human rights compatible with democratic societies? Is security necessarily depending on surveillance? Are there alternative ways to frame security? Is it possible to gain in security by giving up civil liberties, or is it even necessary to do so, and do citizens adopt this trade-off? This volume contributes to a better and deeper understanding of the relation between privacy, surveillance and security, comprising in-depth investigations and studies of the common narrative that more security can only come at the expense of sacrifice of privacy. The book combines theoretical research with a wide range of empirical studies focusing on the citizen's perspective. It presents empirical research exploring factors and criteria relevant for the assessment of surveillance technologies. The book also deals with the governance of surveillance technologies. New approaches and instruments for the regulation of security technologies and measures are presented, and recommendations for security policies in line with ethics and fundamental rights are discussed. This book will be of much interest to students of surveillance studies, critical security studies, intelligence studies, EU politics and IR in general.
Surveillance following Snowden: a major challenge in Spain
Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, 2017
Purpose-This study analyses the impacts of Edward Snowden's revelations in Spain focusing on issues of privacy and state surveillance. Our research takes into consideration the Spanish context from a multidimensional perspective: social, cultural, legal and political. Design/methodology/approach-The paper reviews the Spanish privacy and state surveillance situation. Responses to a questionnaire were collected from 207 university students studying at Universitat Rovira i Virgili or Burgos University. The quantitative responses to the survey were statistically analysed as well as qualitative considerations of free text answers. Findings-The survey outcomes demonstrate that a majority of respondents are aware of Snowden´s revelations, but only a few have even considered taking serious actions to improve their online privacy. One of the most relevant findings is that Spanish citizens find it acceptable to lose privacy and be subject to state surveillance if that provides a benefit in security. Practical implications-The research points out the importance of privacy in a multicultural environment. A sensitized society is a key stone for the healthy and balanced development of state surveillance policy and practice. Social implications-Training programs are a critical dimension to ensure awareness across society regarding privacy and digital technologies. Suitable educational policies and curricula at all levels should be fostered. Originality/value-Privacy and state surveillance based on ICT is an emerging research topic with important consequences for social values and ethics. This study provides an overview of Spanish higher education students' attitudes in these areas.