Digital Liberation News - September 2022
Welcome to the third 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.
Digital Self-Defense Workshop
A huge thank you to those of you who came to our workshop a few weeks ago! We had such a lovely time connecting with you all and learning about how we can protect ourselves and our data online. Here are two key takeaways from the presentation that we wanted to share:
Install an ad blocker. We recommend uBlock Origin, which can be downloaded for free. Not only does a tool like this prevent pesky ads while you're using the internet, it also protects your privacy by preventing tracking.
Use a password manager. Whether it is for convenience or simply a lack of memory, many of us use the same password over and over again across all platforms. This is a highly unsafe practice that leaves us very susceptible to being hacked and having our private data stolen (check if your email has been a part of a data breach here). By using a password manager like NordPass, you can ensure all of your passwords are unique but easy for you to access quickly and keep safe. An even safer option is to keep your passwords stored completely offline in a written format, but this may not be practical and so an online manager is the next best, and still safer that nothing option.
The Digital Justice Ideathon: next week!
Just a reminder that on September 24th and 25th, 2022, we will be hosting the first ever Digital Justice Ideathon at the Science Museum of Minnesota! By bringing together people from several communities of stakeholders, we hope to engage in discussion, develop solutions, and foster disruption of the systems causing harm to our students. We are so excited to join in community with our participants, judges, and coaches on this highly important topic. If you are participating: we can't wait to see you there! Look out for more details in the coming week. If you're unable to make it: no worries! Stay tuned for updates about event outcomes and next steps.
What we're reading
FTC sues company over smartphone data that could uncover abortion clinic visits
Privacy advocates urge cancellation of Amazon's nightmarish Ring Nation
A Tool That Monitors How Long Kids Are in the Bathroom is Now in 1,000 American Schools
Sydney school's use of fingerprint scanners in toilets an invasion of privacy, expert says
Classroom vs. fortress: States push slew of new school safety measures
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).