In the ISTE Certified Educator course, we see a lot of people reading privacy policies for the first time. Almost immediately they want to share this experience with their colleagues and students. The question that quickly emerges is “how do I frame this activity through the positive / empowering lens of digital citizenship” instead of filling my audience with fear and dread?
When exploring privacy policies, it’s not just to protect you and your data. The privacy policy (and terms of use) gives you a deeper understanding of the app and developer. Is this an organization that I want to support? Do I trust them to use my data ethically?
When I accept their terms, I am communicating more than consent. I am telling them that I want more of the practices outlined in their privacy policy. We often hear calls to engage in activism through our wallets by spending money with businesses and individuals whose values align with our own. You (and your students) can prioritize tech companies, apps, and tools who are making decisions that you can get behind.
Want an example of an edtech company doing this well?
Whiteboard.chat is a collaborative whiteboard tool that has done a nice job of creating a privacy policy that educators can confidently use. They require no personal information or sign-in for learners. Whiteboard content is automatically deleted after 3 days. They don’t use cookies to track visitors. Third-party access to their data is blocked. It’s a solid list of important protections. This is the sort of functionality and consideration I hope to see from edtech companies and developers. It certainly makes me more likely to use this tool over another because I feel confident that I’m not putting my learners and their data at risk.
Want to dig a little deeper?
via GIPHY
The Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) “is a unique collaborative of schools, districts, regional, territories and state agencies, policymakers, trade organizations and marketplace providers addressing real-world, adaptable, and implementable solutions to growing data privacy concerns. The Consortium also leverages work done by numerous partner organizations but focuses on issues being faced by ‘on-the-ground’ practitioners.” (Description from their website.)
ISTE Educator Standards:
Citizen 3d. Model and promote management of personal data and digital identity and protect student data privacy.
Category of ISTE’s new approach to digital citizenship: Digital Self