Digital Liberation News - October 2022
Welcome to the fourth issue of Digital Liberation News!
This newsletter aims to keep you informed and engaged in the discussion surrounding the surveillance of students in schools.
Schools are investing in technology that violates student privacy. This digital injustice causes severe harm in immediate and long-term ways that are still being revealed. We seek solutions that center young people, families, educators, and the community. We believe decisions about technology and safety should be informed by those most impacted. Technology should be a tool for school safety, not the answer.
The Digital Justice Ideathon!
After months of preparation and anticipation, we successfully hosted the first ever Digital Justice Ideathon during the last weekend of September! It was a truly amazing weekend filled with anti-racist learning, discussion, teamwork, and designing solutions to the issue of digital surveillance in schools. With the expert guidance of Terresa Moses from Racism Untaught, three teams spent the weekend working through the design process to create an idea from scratch that aimed to address the complex issue at hand. The winning team - Team Two-Good - received the grand prize of $1000 to implement their idea: hosting a Makerspace aimed at giving students a creative outlet to express their feelings and perspectives about digital justice and surveillance in schools! Stay tuned for more details on this exciting event.
No Criminalizing Tech in Ed Summit
On October 15th communities from across the country gathered virtually to discuss criminalizing technologies impacting youth, families and communities across educational ecosystems. The focus of the summit was Making the World we wish to see – creative solutions to counter criminalizing technology in education. Represented in the space were communities from Nashville, TN, Fort Bend, TX, Boston, Mass, Miami/Tampa/ FL, Chicago, IL, St. Paul, MN, and six coalitions were represented in the space as well. Parents, activists, researchers, restorative practitioners, civil rights attorneys and disability rights advocates were all generating solutions to counter the hyper surveillance of youth across educational ecosystems. If you missed out on this event hosted by the NOTICE Coalition, check back for more information on a toolkit and how you can bring the work locally- toolkit coming soon to a community near you!
Dr. Samimi speaking at the Hidden Harms Webinar
The Center for Democracy and Technology and LGBT Tech are hosting the Hidden Harms: Targeting LGBTQ+ Students on Wednesday, October 19 at 2pm EST (1pm CST)! Our very own Dr. Ceema Samimi, along with Elizabeth Laird of CDT, will discuss what can be done to mitigate the harms of using student monitoring tools as well as support youth who have been impacted. Click here for more information and to register!
Data for Public Good Conference
TCIA is hosting the 3rd annual Data for Public Good Conference on Thursday November 3rd and Friday November 4th! There will be presentations about the Digital Justice Ideathon and the No Criminalizing Tech in Ed Summit along with many other great workshops and panels. Registration is free and the conference will take place via a Zoom-connected platform. Click here for more information!
Serve on the Youth Justice Council Steering Committee
The Youth Justice Council Steering Committee is looking for community members that reside in Hennepin County to fill two seats! This committee advises for the Hennepin County juvenile justice system. They focus on policies, programs, and practices that aim to eliminate disparities in the juvenile justice system and increase resources for youth and their families that positively impact the community and enhance public safety. The positions include a stipend. The committee meets the 2nd Monday of each month, and there is a one-hour commitment with possible work outside of meetings. Click here for more information, and click here for the application form!
What we're reading
How to Protect Yourself If Your School Uses Surveillance Tech - features an interview with our own Marika Pfefferkorn!
White House Cautions Schools Against ‘Continuous Surveillance’ of Students
AI Surveillance is Not a Solution for Quiet Quitting
Thanks for reading Digital Liberation News!
For more information about the Ideathon and other related resources, be sure to check out our website.
Digital Liberation News is a part of a collaboration between the Anti-Racist Research in Youth Studies lab (ARRYS) and the Twin Cities Innovation Alliance (TCIA).