Getting Angrier At Spygate In Lower Merion – Here’s Why
I was feeling sorry for Lynn Matsko, Assistant Vice Principal At Harriton High, who called a news conference to express her distress at claims she was spying on a student through a web cam. Then, I was feeling badly for the Robbins family, whose home was allegedly spied-on. Then, I was feeling badly for the family again when they were demonized for all their past-due bills and other alleged problems, which has nothing to do with this case. Then, I felt sorry for all the kids at Harriton whose school was embarrassed by this whole mess. Then. I got a little chuckle when students were spotted with shirts emblazoned with the words, “Lower Merion Spied On Me.”
Then, I got angry , not at Ms. Matsko, or the Robbins or the people who tried to demonize them. I got angry because suddenly a crisis in common sense turned into a circus. Suddenly, school boards all across the country were investigating whether their loaner laptops could be used as spy-cams. That means that those districts were concerned that they too had the potential to spy on their students at home.
You see, most people are missing the point.
And this is it: The fact is that someone in the Lower Merion school district allowed a CONNECTION between the computer cams and the school. That CONNECTION, whether innocent or not, provided the potential for someone to look at someone’s private moments in their own homes! Did the school district understand that there was a POTENTIAL for harm by allowing that connection in the first place?
That is the real story, not the charges and counter-charges, but the awareness that someone in that school district wasn’t smart enough to see that a connection like that was a green light for possible abuse.
The person in that school district who may have knowingly approved that connection must be found, and at the very least, given a copy of the United States Constitution.
Comments(10)
Every notebook has the potential to be hacked to activate a camera (or microphone, which would allow eavesdropping).
Should we now ban cameras and microphones on notebooks?
Personally, I’m waiting to see if this picture actually exists. So far, the kid is the only one who has SAID he saw it. I am no fan of public school districts, but I am also no fan of bloodsucking lawyers and lawsuits that claim noble motives (i.e. privacy) but also seek out a jackpot.
I think the debts of the parents DO have something to do with the story – it is a motive for the way it has been handled (i.e. let’s see if money is demanded).
This is a stupid topic. This is a stupid commentary. What is your point? Do you have one?
The school IT guy is likely completely incompetent like every other school district IT guy in PA. Completely incapable of pulling off electronic monitoring. Get real.
Larry,
YOU need to check the constitution. The LM School Board is not a regulatory agency, i.e. cannot through you in jail, fine you or impact your personal liberty. I work in the IT field, and we have clearly defined guidelines / responsibilities for use of Company assets. Users are informed of the impact of not following the policies. Users are told that they may be monitored at any time. It’s standard procedure. I would hope that LM has something similar. If not, they are in a world of trouble.
Good points JoeD, the bills of the family are very pertinent. It gives motive for a lawsuit and a potential jackpot, or even just an out of court settlement that could help them. Iimes are tough and $10-20k to go away would be a lot to those people. Lots of people also hate their school district and administators, everything from legitimate incompetance of unionized idiot liberals running the systems to resentment over high school taxes that pay their saleries could be a motive. LArry ususally misses key points on issues. The other School districts ask a reasonable question. They could have IT guys and/or teachers and administrators jacking off in their basements to 14 year old girls changing their cloths in their bedrooms. So every school should ask the question and conduct reviews of their IT policies, that is beyond Larrys comprehension too.
What does Gail think of all this, that cute minx that thinks we should reserve a rush to judgment!
Larry – You are a true journalist. You have nailed this one once again. Its not about what happened. Its about the POTENTIAL.
And speaking of potential, I think there is plenty of potential for our media in the future.
I loyally pledge my committment to my friend and hero, Brian Tierney to fully meet the growing demands of the public thru the wonderful forum of NEW MEDIA.
I love journalism. I love your columns. And i surely love the Beatles too.
Fondly.
Always and Forever.
Your friend and colleague
Will
What’s the matter with looking at people in their homes on their computer? You should put tape over the camera lens if you dont want people to look, otherwise we are going to look, the technology is there, we are going to use it. Dont go online if you want privacy. What do you think tracking cookies are? This site uses them, how is that different?
Forget you Larry, if the Robbins owned a dress factory it would have been hit by “lightening” by now. Don’t tell me that the thought of bringing in a few bucks didn’t motivate Mister Robbins to sue. BTW, who eats Mike & Ikes past the age of seven? The family owes PECO, the PUC, daycare, their dentist, even their current lawyer suing them for passed due fees. Something is not kosher here and I bet it ain’t the Robbins family.
Larry, take a look at the case of the Memphis
Three to better understand what happens whem
a jury sentences death on bad information.
The 48 hours story is stunning, the case was
so flawed, but the desire for revenge and
bad police work can cause an innocent man to
be executed in TN. You really need to relect
and perhaps opine that you need to reconsider
your assertion that juries are “whimpy” to
not execute. It best they err on side of life
in prison, and that’s not to coddle criminals,
it to ensure the integrity of our justice
system!
I want to know why PECO shuts off power for people in poor neighborhoods and not these people? By the way, why did they give him the laptop in the first place if the lame parents never put down the $55 required deposit in the first place? Help me understand this.