Events, media and collaborations

Commercial EdTech applications in New Zealand schools now number anywhere between 100 and 250, ranking them on par with schools in the US and other European countries. However, in New Zealand, the current process for selecting and adopting EdTech in schools is haphazard and puts student privacy at risk of commercial exploitation. The adoption of EdTech is often contingent on teachers, senior management, or board members, and these decisions are frequently made without IT staff conducting any Privacy Impact Assessment. While IT staff are aware of EdTech data practices, they lack the authority to reject products based on student data privacy concerns. School heads make their own assessments and decisions without prioritizing children's privacy. Most schools lack the necessary IT expertise and staff resources, and regulations and government resources do not provide adequate assistance to vet EdTech, often expecting schools—and therefore students—to accept levels of data collection that would be unacceptable elsewhere.

New Zealand needs two things: first, strong regulations protecting children's rights to privacy in the educational setting and protection from commercial interests; and second, a shift in the paradigm around what privacy means in the digital world with subsequent strengthening of privacy regulation, and support for schools.

A series of blogs are forthcoming...

Dr Caroline Keen spoke with other key experts in the privacy space about the challenge of protecting children's personal data, both at home and at school.  Hosted by the Education, Partnership & Innovation Trust, panel speakers were: Dr Caroline Keen of Sociodigital Research, and also a member of the NZ Privacy Foundation working group for children; Brent Carey, CEO of Netsafe, Anjela Webster founder of Generation Online, and Rick Shera, parter at Lowndes Jordan. Be sure to watch the video also on our brand new YouTube Channel.

Sociodigital Research has released an educational video now available on the company's YouTube channel.  

This short, animated video is designed to make it glaringly obvious how dangerous the systematic mining of children’s data can be.

The video aims to raise awareness of the privacy risks children face in the digital age and prompt parents, children and educators to take action to minimise these risks. The video explains the importance of safeguarding children’s data privacy.

Dr Keen's 2019 research revealed that parents generally believed that institutions and companies collected a minimal amount of data about them, and that there were regulations to prevent the collection of sensitive data from their children without parental consent. Parents were unaware of the risks that commercial software services and in particular EdTech, now widely used within New Zealand schools, pose to children's privacy. Dr Keen sits down for a kōrero with Senior Community Advisor/Kaitohutohu Matua ā-Hāpori Ciara Arnot. 

Phil Pennington digs deeper into research here and overseas warning that schools are exposing children to privacy risks from commercial actors now supplying EdTech in schools. The collection of their data has slipped beneath the regulatory radar, as schools are left to manage these issues without the resources to do so.

Dr Caroline Keen spent some couch time talking with Jenny-May from TVNZ Breakfast show about the the privacy risks that Educational Technology (EdTech) in schools pose for students. Why are commercial companies allowed to collect children's personal data within schools? - A heads up, you may have to create an account on TVNZ to view this on demand.

Radio New Zealand (RNZ) interviewed Dr Caroline Keen on the subject of Educational Technology (EdTech) in schools and the new privacy risks this presents to students. You can read more about this issue on our blog

As a member of the NZ Privacy Foundation Working Group for Children's Privacy, Dr Keen is supports public debate about children's privacy within the education environment. The Working Group have released a brief paper on the potential privacy risks to students through the adoption of digital technologies in schools.

Working from research conducted with families that explored how parents and children think about privacy online, Sociodigital Research has produced an animated explainer to help families understand how personal information is collected, created and used in the digital environment. It's a starting point to stimulate conversation. The video is offered as a free resource for parents and children, and also educators who might wish to stimulate critical thinking about how we engage with online digital services.

Privacy Week 2022: Safeguarding Children's Data Privacy in a Digital World: Dr Keen, CEO of Sopciodigital Research hosted a panel discussion exploring the ethical frameworks developing around the collection of personal information in New Zealand, with a specific interest in the safeguarding of children's personal data. Speakers from the MoE, GCPO, OPC, MSD and NZ School Association. This was facilitated through the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

Sociodigital Research, Caroline Keen - Surviving the 'new normal': Seeking sustainable income by raising the digital capital of women over 50'

Research and presentation for Cyber Security for Schools Conference on 31st March 2021. You can read more in our blog about EdTech in schools.

InternetNZ award Keen Initiatives Ltd research funding to explore the digital capital of women over fifty - 15 February 2021

Internet NZ support Social Research NZ research into how families use of digital technology

InternetNZ and 20/20 Trust support Social Research NZ digital inclusion research

Social Research NZ collaborate with 20/20 Trust. Research into how families engage with digital technology. 24th August 2020

Privacy Week 2021 Presentation: The issue of 'consent': barriers to safeguarding children’s data

Parents warned to be vigilant about children's data privacy 17th May 2020

Why States fail to regulate pornography online. 17th February 2020

Researching children's data privacy rights. 15th July 2019

Radio NZ interview about regulating online pornography. 11th November 2019. See University of Auckland coverage and also link to RNZ interview