Observed Signal · May 30, 2022 · Research Report · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Negative
HRW Report Finds EdTech Apps Violate Children's Privacy; Schoolfox Responds
Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report finding that 146 of 164 examined EdTech products (89 percent) endangered or violated children's privacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The learning tools, analyzed between March and August 2021 across 49 countries, allegedly shared children's personal data with 196 third-party companies, mostly advertising technology firms. HRW stated that tracking technologies such as the Android Advertising ID enabled the creation of user profiles of 86.9 million children. Austrian startup SchoolFox, a subsidiary of GoStudent widely used in Bavarian schools, was among the named apps. SchoolFox rejected the findings, stating it uses Google Firebase Cloud Messaging solely for push notifications and does not collect or transmit the Android Advertising ID. The company called the HRW report misleading. HRW demands an immediate end to data collection in school apps and the deletion of all children's data held by AdTech companies.
A high-profile human rights investigation alleging that EdTech platforms share children's data with AdTech companies increases regulatory and reputational risk for the advertising industry and could accelerate child data protection legislation.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Human Rights Watch examined 164 EdTech products across 49 countries between March and August 2021.
- The report found that 146 of 164 (89 percent) EdTech products endangered or violated children's privacy rights.
- Children's data was shared with or made accessible to 196 third-party companies, predominantly advertising technology firms.
- SchoolFox, a subsidiary of GoStudent, denied the allegations, stating it does not collect or transmit the Android Advertising ID.
- HRW is calling for EdTech and AdTech companies to stop processing children's data for advertising and to delete collected data.
Connected Companies & Entities
7 Entities mapped“Provider of Firebase Cloud Messaging, which SchoolFox says it embeds as an SDK for push notifications....”
“Mentioned among the digital tools examined by HRW....”
“Mentioned via WhatsApp and Facebook among the digital tools examined by HRW....”
“Mentioned via Minecraft and Microsoft Teams among the digital tools examined by HRW....”
“Mentioned via Cisco WebEx among the digital tools examined by HRW....”
“Mentioned among the digital tools examined by HRW....”
“Mentioned among the digital tools examined by HRW....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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