Free Edtech Products May Come at Cost of Privacy

Data Privacy

Free Edtech Products May Come at Cost of Privacy

Mar 16, 2015

FREEMIUM'S COST: Free and freemium apps empower teachers with the ability to experiment with new tools, but at a cost. The latest in the New York Time's coverage on edtech examines how education products are spreading "haphazardly," given that many privacy and security loopholes still exist. One professor asserted that "companies are soliciting teachers to breach the obligations of schools," and it surely can be a headache for administrators trying to keep track of all the products that are being signed up for.

But we ought to celebrate--and not clamp down on--teachers' enthusiasm to take initiative and try new things in the classroom. Not every product may work as marketed, but at the very least the industry can step up by guaranteeing and enforcing consistent privacy and security protocols. Here's a start.

Learn more about EdSurge operations, ethics and policies here. Learn more about EdSurge supporters here.

More from EdSurge

Get our email newsletterSign me up
Keep up to date with our email newsletterSign me up