Kid Clicks For Sale

evenprime writes "Zdnet is reporting that N2H2 is selling statistics from their BESS filtering software (a product designed for use in schools) to marketing companies who are interested in students' browsing habits." N2H2's stock price jumped dramatically last month when they put up a helpful website to explain how schools can comply with the new federal mandate which requires the installation of censorware. And just wait for the profit reports once Europe makes it mandatory too. Anyway, this selling-traffic-patterns story is interesting because it's the next logical step in the continuing trend to cash in on kids -- if anyone gets suspended for reading Coke.com on Pepsi Day, let us know, OK?

Comments

Re:What a load of crap!

[BilldaCat]

>> First of all, the title of this article is *extremely* misleading

>> This article was written to intentionally put a shady, dishonest spin on N2H2's legitimate business practices and to try and spread Taco's own paranoid propaganda.

>> I am deeply offended that Taco would try to spread these slanderous lies!

You're new here, aren't you?

Use the Freedom of Information Act

[x-empt]

You can gain access to this same information by utilizing the Freedom of Info act, since schools are operated by the Federal Govt.

Below is a letter I recently sent to my school district in Las Vegas, NV:

Freedom of Information Officer
Network Services
Clark County School District
2832 E Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89121

Re: Freedom of Information Act Request

Dear officer:

Under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) I would like to request the following materials from the Clark County School District (CCSD):
1) All documentation regarding the implementation of the Bess web proxy system provided to CCSD by N2H2. Including proxy configuration, network topology after installation, and the reasons for the Bess installation.
2) All access logs that are recorded by the Bess proxy filter. These logs should be provided in digital form, compressed using either ZIP or gzip compression algorithms.
3) Documentation regarding the effectiveness of Bess at blocking Internet sites deemed inappropriate for minors and sites that have been mis-categorized by Bess.

I am aware that I am entitled to make this request under the Freedom of Information Act, and if your agency response is not satisfactory, I am prepared to make an administrative appeal. Please indicate to me the name of the official to whom such an appeal should be addressed.

If my request is denied, I am entitled to know the reasons for denial.

I am aware that while the law allows your agency to withhold specified categories of exempted information, you are required by law to release any segregable portions that are left after the exempted material has been deleted from the data I am seeking.

I also request a waiver of all fees for this request. Disclosure of the requested information to me is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government, and is not in my commercial interest. I am classified as noncommercial news media under the Freedom of Information Act.

Sincerely,

xxx

Anyways, they responded back by sending me marketting materials from N2H2. Well, its time to re-request the information and "be more specific."

Anyways, this does work well for pissing them off and scaring them to death, plus you can see how ineffective the filters really are.

x

pretty scary

[drDugan]

I think this is pretty scary... just from the privacy implications alone.

Lets summarize the situation:

• The government requires kids to go to school.
• Schools require kids to use the Internet.
• Govenrment requires special software in schools to monitor the actions of people there while online.
• Sellers of the software can do whatever they want with the data, without any oversight.
• The people being monitored (the schoolkids) have no say or recourse to affect the situation.

Doesn't sound so cool does it?
Where does the line get drawn for what is OK to watch and monitor and what is private?