School-Loaned Computer Privacy (H 5176A, S 232)

  • Status: Passed House, Held For Further Study in Senate
  • Position: Support
  • Bill Number: H 5176A, S 232
  • Session: 2025
  • Latest Update: February 12, 2025
2025 Legislative Session – Privacy

When virtual education became ubiquitous at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, issues of student privacy on school-loaned devices rightly crept to the forefront of public conversation. A report we issued in September 2020 showed that most schools advise students they do not have any expectation of privacy when using these computers, which is a concern only compounded by the fact that most students were completing their virtual learning from inside the private home. We urged enactment of a bill which would provide specific technological privacy protections for students – including a ban on surreptitious accessing of the computer microphone and camera – so that they do not have to be concerned about inappropriate intrusions of privacy while working on these computers.

Sponsors:
Representative Speakman, Senator Valverde
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