SPYCAM: IT workers placed on (paid) leave...

[PCIntern]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20100304_Two_Lower_Merion_School_District_IT_workers_placed_on_leave.html


Two Lower Merion School District IT workers placed on leave

By Joseph Tanfani

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Two information-technology employees at Lower Merion School District have been placed on leave while an investigation continues into the use of remote surveillance software on student laptops.

The two people authorized to activate the software - Michael Perbix, a network technician, and Carol Cafiero, information systems coordinator - were put on paid leave last week while lawyers and technicians examine how the remote system was used, The Inquirer learned today.

Lawyers for Cafiero and Perbix said their clients did nothing wrong. Perbix and Cafiero only turned on the remote software when a laptop was reported missing, they said - and administrators knew what they were doing.

"A phone call had to come from the high school to turn it on," said Charles Mandracchia, attorney for Cafiero. "And if it was turned on it was turned on with the understanding that the computer was either lost or stolen."



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More at the link...

To paraphrase Hannibal...I'm just posting this for informational purposes only.

And by the way...the outcome/nature of the suit is irrelevant. The admitted fact that they possessed the ABILITY to look into our homes is enough. So please spare me the nonsense about how it was only 'used 42 times' for lost or stolen machines.

On edit: Note how the attorney for this guy Perbix has started to blame the administration for not having policies in place officially.

[dmr]

1. He also claims the police department knew

how they accessed these laptops. I guess he could say that if the cops had no problems with it, then how could you fault his client?
:shrug:
But it's still an invasion of privacy; and I can't get past the thought of it being activated while being in the student's sanctuary, their bedroom, where they might have been in a state of undress - or eating candy!

I value my privacy and respect others'. I would be livid if this happened in my family.

[PCIntern]

2. Even if the kid were taking 'Ludes....

doesn't matter. Illegal search...