Education
Education

Technology and privacy clash in schools

By Ty Tagami
Feb 22, 2016

ExploreMore at the AJC Get Schooled blog

Back story: Students' data at center of privacy concerns

Parents who let their children use apps or online tools at school could be giving tech companies all they need to assemble “psychological profiles” on them, said one Georgia lawmaker.

Sen. William T. Ligon, Jr., R-Brunswick, has legislation that would force schools to declare the use of tech tools in school and let parents opt out. “This is a tremendous amount of information on a child,” he said.

Senate Bil 281 got a hearing in the Senate Education and Youth committee Monday, where it remained without a vote after concerns expressed by members. One big worry: putting more work on teachers, who would be required to create alternative paper-based educational plans for students who swear off screens.

“Teachers would really want to pull their hair out if they get one more mandate,” said committee member JaNice VanNess, R-Conyers.

About the Author

Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.

Follow Ty Tagami on facebookFollow Ty Tagami on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

A 1-year-old receives the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine at a clinic in Texas. Of the nearly 2,000 U.S. measles cases reported this year, 93% of those who were infected were unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images

Will measles outbreak spread to Georgia? With holiday travel, it could.

Georgia health experts recommend getting up to date on vaccinations before traveling for the holidays.

Rockdale parents call for change amid complaints of teachers assaulting kids

Rockdale County faces scrutiny as parents push for better safeguards after teachers allegedly harmed students.

Fulton schools police officer put on leave after allegedly tasing a student

A video of the incident, which involved a student at Langston Hughes High School in Fairburn, is making the rounds on social media.

The Latest

A 1-year-old receives the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine at a clinic in Texas. Of the nearly 2,000 U.S. measles cases reported this year, 93% of those who were infected were unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images

Will measles outbreak spread to Georgia? With holiday travel, it could.

Rockdale parents call for change amid complaints of teachers assaulting kids

Clayton County school superintendent announces retirement

Featured

Yemaya Lyles (right) wipes away tears during a news conference in front of the Rockdale County Public Schools administration building on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Lyles' son, Antonio, was assaulted by a paraprofessional, who has since been fired and charged with battery. Lyles says her case against the school district has dragged on since then. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2023)

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Rockdale parents call for change amid complaints of teachers assaulting kids

Rockdale County faces scrutiny as parents push for better safeguards after teachers allegedly harmed students.

Will measles outbreak spread to Georgia? With holiday travel, it could.

Georgia health experts recommend getting up to date on vaccinations before traveling for the holidays.

OPINION

The ‘Cookie and Coal’ awards for 2025 in Georgia politics

Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Patricia Murphy reflects on who has been naughty and nice in Georgia politics for 2025.