Advertisers are sucking up student data, even after legal action, researchers say

Hundreds of advertisers are collecting valuable student data from a service that allows schools to add sports data to their informational app for students, researchers at the Me2Be Alliance found. The new findings build on previous research from the nonprofit that found the majority of sampled school apps were sharing data with advertising software kits. This time researchers examined web traffic originating from links embedded directly into the customized school apps using a utility called WebView. “These are taxpayer-funded school utility apps that have integrated some of the most aggressive advertising chains you can think of,” said Zach Edwards, one of the report’s researchers. The WebView software gives developers a way to allow users to open links within an app, instead of a separate web browser. The process makes it easier for developers to include content in their apps but harder for users to control privacy settings. WebView itself doesn’t expose […]

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Pixalate raises $18.1M to accelerate global expansion and media ratings platform

Pixalate announces $18.1 million of additional growth capital bringing the total investment to $22.7 million to date. Pixalate empowers organizations to navigate the increasingly complex CTV and Mobile ad supply chain by analyzing 5+ million apps that … Continue reading Pixalate raises $18.1M to accelerate global expansion and media ratings platform

Researchers create tool for protecting children’s online privacy

A University of Texas at Dallas study of 100 mobile apps for kids found that 72 violated a federal law aimed at protecting children’s online privacy. Dr. Kanad Basu, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Erik Jonsson S… Continue reading Researchers create tool for protecting children’s online privacy

Two schoolkids sue Google for collecting biometrics

The suit is about biometrics and children’s privacy in Google’s education apps, which are suddenly, wildly popular now due to COVID-19. Continue reading Two schoolkids sue Google for collecting biometrics

Google denies illegally slurping data off free student Chromebooks

Nonsense! says Google in response to a lawsuit filed by New Mexico’s AG, which accuses Google of violating COPPA’s child privacy laws. Continue reading Google denies illegally slurping data off free student Chromebooks

Lawsuit Claims Google Collects Minors’ Locations, Browsing History

A new lawsuit alleges that Google’s G Suite for Education program covertly collects data from students, violating both COPPA and other data privacy regulations. Continue reading Lawsuit Claims Google Collects Minors’ Locations, Browsing History