Full Citation
Human Rights Watch. (2022). “How Dare They Peep into My Private Life”: Children’s Rights Violations by Governments that Endorsed Online Learning During the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Publication Type
Comprehensive investigation and policy report
What They Studied
Human Rights Watch investigated EdTech products used by children during and after the Covid-19 pandemic in 49 countries, examining their data collection practices and privacy protections.
Key Findings
Widespread surveillance of children:
- 89% of EdTech products could monitor children or had the technical capacity to do so
- Many products sent children’s data to advertising technology companies
- Products tracked children outside of school hours
- Most products had inadequate privacy protections
Government failure:
- Governments endorsed EdTech without adequate due diligence
- Privacy impact assessments often weren’t conducted
- Many products violated children’s rights under international law
- Parents and schools often had no idea about the extent of data collection
What data was collected:
- Browsing history and search terms
- Location data
- Behavioural patterns
- Biometric data (in some cases)
- Contact lists and communications
- Performance data and learning difficulties
Why This Matters for Schools
Most schools adopted EdTech platforms rapidly during Covid, and many have continued using them. This report shows that:
Schools may be violating children’s privacy rights without realising it The platforms they trust may be harvesting student data for commercial purposes There is insufficient oversight of EdTech data practices Children cannot meaningfully consent to these data collection practices
What Parents Should Know
Your child’s school is likely using multiple EdTech platforms. According to this research, the vast majority of these platforms are collecting far more data than necessary for educational purposes, and some are sharing it with advertising companies.
Questions to ask your school:
- What EdTech platforms does my child use?
- What data do these platforms collect?
- Who has access to my child’s data?
- Has the school completed a Data Protection Impact Assessment for each platform?
- Can I see the privacy policies and data sharing agreements?
Critical Quote
“Governments’ endorsement of most of these products was akin to endorsing surveillance of children… In doing so, governments failed to protect children’s privacy and put them at risk of a host of rights violations.”
Access the Report
This report is essential reading for any parent concerned about EdTech in their child’s school.
