1,000 secondary schools in the UK are monitoring students’ online activity with computer software it’s being said.
While many suggest the software have been installed to protect children online, some are concerned as parents and students are unaware of the system.
1,000 schools said they has installed the software on school computers to monitor online activity, see web histories, block certain websites and even see what is being typed into the computer.
The report carried out by Big Brother Watch said it worried about the effect this type of monitoring would have on student-teacher relations.
“We are concerned that the use of technology which allows real time monitoring is placing teachers unwittingly in the position of being Big Brother.
“Forcing staff to oversee their pupils’ every digital move represents a fundamental shift from the traditional method of overseeing pupils by engaging with them from the front of the class.”
The civil liberties group also said there was not enough information being given to students and parents about the software.
“Schools currently offer little explanation about the use of the software in their acceptable use policies. Pupils and parents, who have to sign such policies to say they agree to the use of the software, are therefore left completely in the dark.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Education has since come out to defend the schools decision to install the software saying it's for student cyber safety and ultimately the schools' decision.
“Schools have a responsibility to keep pupils safe, including online, and schools should use appropriate filters and monitoring systems to protect children from harmful material.
“How individual schools decide to do this is rightly a matter for the school, engaging with pupils and parents as appropriate.”
