The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts
-
Upload
diana-benner -
Category
Technology
-
view
62 -
download
0
Transcript of The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts
![Page 1: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Lena Engel,
Attorney
Texas CTO 2015 Summer Clinic
June 17, 2015
![Page 2: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
2
![Page 3: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
88% of teens have seen someone be mean to another person on a social networking site.
41% of teens have had a negative experience as a result of
using a social networking site. 39% of teens and tweens think their online activity is
private from everyone, including parents. 67% of teenagers say they know how to hide what they’re
doing online from their parents. Among 9-17 year olds, more time is spent on social
networks than on TV.
http://www.guardchild.com/social-media-statistics-2/, February 27, 2015.
3
![Page 4: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
#1 Compliance with Privacy Laws #2 Compliance with CIPA #3 Vendor Terms and Conditions #4 Responding to Student Use of Social Media On and Off Campus #5 Responding to Employee Use of Social Media On and Off Campus
4
![Page 5: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
![Page 6: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) ◦ Governs use and dissemination of student education
records and personally identifiable information ◦ Beware of Directory Information opt out and personal use
Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) ◦ Provides parents certain rights regarding conduct of
surveys and collection and use of student information for marketing purposes
◦ Requires notice and opt out
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) ◦ Governs online collection of personal information from
children under 13 ◦ Requires parental consent and opt out
6
![Page 7: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Texas Education Code Sec. 26.009. ◦ An employee of a school district must obtain the written consent
of a child's parent before the employee may . . . make or authorize the making of a videotape of a child or record or authorize the recording of a child's voice
Not required to obtain consent if the videotape or voice recording is to be used only for: ◦ purposes of safety, including the maintenance of order and
discipline in common areas of the school or on school buses; ◦ a purpose related to a cocurricular or extracurricular activity; ◦ a purpose related to regular classroom instruction; or ◦ media coverage of the school
Disclosure still subject to FERPA
7
![Page 8: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Texas Penal Code § 33.07(a) ◦ A person commits an offense if he uses the name
or persona of another person to: Create a web page on a commercial social networking
site or other internet website; or
Post or send one or more messages on or through a commercial social networking site or other internet website, other than on or through an electronic mail program or message board program;
Without obtaining the other person’s consent; and
With the intent to harm, defraud, or intimidate, or threaten any person
◦ Penalty: 3rd degree felony
8
![Page 9: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
![Page 10: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Districts must certify compliance with CIPA when applying for E-Rate funding
Requires development and enforcement of an Internet Safety Policy
Applies generally to District’s use of technology, but particularly challenging for District-sponsored/sanctioned use of social media
10
![Page 11: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Internet Safety Policy must provide for (among other things): ◦ Monitoring the online activities of minors
◦ Implementing technology protection measures that
protect against access by adults and minors to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography or, with respect to use of computers with Internet access by minors, harmful to minors (i.e., block or filter access)
◦ Educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, cyberbullying awareness, and response
11
![Page 12: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Limit use to District-issued devices)
Encourage use of separate District/professional accounts
Appoint administrator to join groups (e.g., Like, Follow), or otherwise monitor
Work with provider to gain access/monitor
Train employees and students on proper use ◦ Cyberbullying ◦ Appropriate content
Inform parents about social media use and accounts
12
![Page 13: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Avoid requesting access to, or otherwise attempting to control, students’ or employees’ personal accounts
Do not search students’ cell phones without reasonable suspicion
Beware of social media monitoring companies
13
![Page 14: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
![Page 15: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Ownership of Data De-identified Data vs. Metadata vs. PII Vendor Access, Use, and Disclosure ◦ PII – District purposes only
Beware of Data Mining Access to Data for Monitoring, Records Retention,
and Open Records Requests Transfer or Deletion of Data Upon
Assignment/Termination
15
![Page 16: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Usage-Based or Fluid Costs
Venue/Governing Law
Exhibits Referenced by Website ◦ Terms of Use ◦ Privacy Policy
Confidentiality of Vendor Information
Limitation of Liability/Infringement Indemnity
16
![Page 17: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
![Page 18: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
18
• Speech that Causes a Substantial Disruption Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969)
• Lewd or Vulgar Expression Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986)
• School-Sponsored Speech Hazelwood Sch. Dist. v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988)
• Speech Promoting Illegal Drug Use Morse v. Frederick, 127 S. Ct. 2618 (2007)
When Can ON-Campus Speech Be Regulated?
![Page 19: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
19
• True Threats Morse v. Frederick, 127 S. Ct. 2618 (2007)
• Special Danger Ponce v. Socorro Indep. Sch. Dist., 508 F.3d 765 (5th Cir. 2007)
• Speech that Causes a Substantial Disruption Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969)
When Can OFF-Campus Speech Be Regulated?
![Page 20: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
. . . Maybe.
The Tinker standard appears to be the proper test for off-campus student speech now:
Does it materially or substantially disrupt the work and discipline of the public school?
BUT WAIT . . .
20
![Page 21: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Investigate improper off-campus speech immediately and document any evidence of disruption (or reasonably forecasted disruption) to the school environment
If it is a true threat or a Columbine-style reference, act immediately and report to the police
21
![Page 22: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
![Page 23: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
23
When Can Employee Speech Be Regulated?
![Page 24: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
24
1. Is the employee speaking pursuant to
official duties? • If so, no protection
• If not, go to Question 2
2. Is it a matter of public concern?
• If not, no protection
• If so, balance interests of the district as
an employer and the employee as a citizen (i.e., First Amendment rights)
Pickering v. Bd. of Educ., 391 U.S. 563 (1969)
When Can Employee Speech Be Regulated?
![Page 25: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Safesmartsocial.com
Commonsensemedia.org
Connectsafely.org
Safekids.com
25
![Page 26: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Lena Engel
5718 Westheimer Road, Suite 1200
Houston, Texas 77057
Telephone: 713.960.6000
Thank you for your time and attention!
![Page 27: The Top Five Legal Pitfalls of Social Media for School Districts](https://reader030.fdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032504/55c38464bb61eb9f628b46e5/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
THE FOREGOING PRESENTATION WAS CREATED BY ROGERS, MORRIS & GROVER, LLP. THIS
PRESENTATION IS INTENDED TO BE USED SOLELY FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES AND IS NOT TO BE
REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. IF SPECIFIC LEGAL ADVICE IS SOUGHT, PLEASE CONSULT AN ATTORNEY.
Houston Office: 5718 Westheimer Road, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77057
Telephone: 713.960.6000
Austin Office: 5920 W. William Cannon Dr., Bldg. 1, Ste. 250, Austin, TX 78749
Telephone: 512.354.1050
Website: www.rmgllp.com