To Spy or Not to Spy

Information Ethics Case

By Heather Healy, Carla Heideman, Stephenie Heinz,

Lora Jones, Margaret Kriwiel, Laura McDaniel

March 3, 2010

At the start of the 2009-2010 school year, the Carleton School District in suburban

Philadelphia issued a laptop computer to each high school student. To receive the computer, each

student and his or her legal guardians were required to sign a computer use agreement that

prohibits students from using the computer in any inappropriate or illegal ways at any time

whether the student is at school or at any other location. As part of the program, 15-year old

Spencer Johnson received one of the school-issued laptops, and he and his parents signed the

computer use agreement.

One day in February, Spencer and several classmates are in the school library doing

research for an English report. The students are acting a bit raucous and disturbing other students

in the library. Wanting to maintain order and help get Spencer and the other students back on

track, Mr. Anderson, the school librarian, approaches the table where the students are working to

see if he can assist them with their research. As Mr. Anderson approaches the table, he notices

that Spencer is showing the other students the photo that is set as his wallpaper. The photo is a

picture of Spencer and other teenagers at what appears to be a party engaging in drug activity.

Mr. Anderson catches only a glimpse of the photo because as soon as the students notice Mr.

Anderson’s approach, Spencer quickly maximizes another window on the desktop to cover the

wallpaper photo.

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Later in the day, in the teacher’s lounge, Mr. Anderson sees Ms. Baker, the vice

principal. The two chat about various issues concerning the library, and as part of the

conversation, Mr. Anderson mentions that he is concerned about Spencer Johnson and relays to

Ms. Baker what he saw on Spencer’s laptop. Ms. Baker thanks Mr. Anderson for the information

and then goes back to her office. The information provided by Mr. Anderson is especially

intriguing to Ms. Baker because earlier that week her office received an anonymous tip that one

or more Carleton High students had been bringing pills to school and providing them to other

students. The tip did not specifically name any students, and it did not specify the exact type of

pills.

Armed with all of this information, Ms. Baker consults with the principal, Mr. Harper.

They want to determine whether Spencer is involved in drug activity. They are concerned about

his well being and want to get him help if needed. They are also concerned about the safety and

welfare of the other students at the school. They are obligated to protect other students and to

make sure no illegal activity takes place on school grounds. As a result, they decide to use a

security program already installed on each laptop to see if they can learn more about the

situation. The program allows a technology assistant to remotely activate the webcam embedded

in the laptop screen and take a picture with it. The program can also capture an image of what is

displayed on the computer screen. Mr. Harper and Ms. Baker ask one of the technology

assistants to activate the security program that evening. Before the start of school the next day,

they check in with the technology assistant and discover that the webcam snapped a photo of

Spencer placing pills into his mouth.

During first period, Spencer is called to the vice principal’s office. Ms. Baker suspends

him for three days for engaging in inappropriate behavior and as proof she shows him the photo

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taken with the webcam. The school contacts Spencer’s parents to notify them of the suspension.

When Mr. and Mrs. Johnson discuss the matter with their son, Spencer tells them that Ms. Baker

showed him a photo that apparently had been taken with the webcam of his school laptop the

previous evening while he was in his bedroom. Spencer says that Ms. Baker cited the photo as

evidence that he was engaging in improper behavior, but Spencer says what the photo actually

shows is him eating Mike and Ike candy.

The next day, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson accompany Spencer to school to discuss the

suspension. The Johnsons want the school to lift the suspension because they feel Spencer has

been wrongly accused of improper behavior. They also want to know why the school is taking

photos of their child in their home. The school confirms that they are able to activate the webcam

remotely, but they neither overturn the suspension nor apologize for using the webcam. The

Johnsons are dissatisfied with the outcome of the meeting and decide to call their attorney. The

end result is that the Johnsons file a class action lawsuit against the Carleton School District for

invasion of privacy.

Case Study Questions

1. Utilizing Severson’s four-step method, which conflicts are present in the controversy

between the Carleton School District and the Johnson family?

2. Based on the evidence and the principles of ethics, who do you believe has a stronger case—

the school or family? Why?

3. Should a school district ever remotely activate the webcam of laptops issued to students? If

yes, in what situations would this be appropriate? If no, why? Does the time of day (during

school hours or outside of school hours) make a difference in your answer?

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4. Could the school have done something different to collect evidence? Give examples and

reasoning.

5. What are the pros and cons of school issued laptops?

6. What security measures should be in place to protect students’ privacy when using school-

issued laptops?

References

Associated Press. (2010). School District Is Accused Of Webcam Spying. Retrieved from

http://www.npr.org

Associated Press. (2010). Suit: Schools Spied on Students Via Webcam. Retrieved from

http://www.cbsnews.com

Mackey, R. (2010, February 19). School Accused of Using Webcam to Photograph Student at

Home. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com

Magid, L. (2010, February 23). MAGID ON TECH: School district's webcam spy case grows

legs. Peninsula. Retrieved from http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula

McGinley, C.W. (2010, February 19). Update from Dr. McGinley regarding high school student

laptop security. Retrieved from http://www.lmsd.org

Prince, B. (2010). School District Accused of Webcam Spying. Retrieved from

http://www.eweek.com

Puffy, S.P. (2010). School District Accused of Spying on Students via Home Webcams.

Retrieved from http://www.law.com