Millions of students in Canada and around the world had their personal information sent to advertisers and data brokers when governments made an abrupt switch to online learning during the pandemic, according to a new report that reveals safety gaps in educational technology.
CBC Kids, an educational website run by Canada’s public broadcaster, is used as a global case study in the HRW report, because of how particularly “egregious” the site was in its data-collection practices. This data is then sent to advertising companies, either directly by the EdTech company or through tracking technology embedded in the product.In the process, advertising companies assign an ID number to the child, to help piece together the data and build a profile.Some advertising companies will also follow the child across the internet as they access other sites and applications over time.
Real-time bidding technology is employed, where algorithms engage in a high-frequency auction amongst advertisers to sell off the chance to show an ad to a user. This automated process can take place tens of billions of times each day.These insights can then also be sold as information to actors beyond advertising companies, such as data brokers, law enforcement and governments, or anyone who wishes to target a defined group of people with similar characteristics online – in this case, children.
Some companies may gather even more intimate data from public and private sources. This could include details such as app and website usage behaviour, keywords from conversations and search history. The data could also tap into the child’s sleeping patterns. Instantly, the app begins to collect personal data about the child. This could include information about where the child is located, what they did in their classroom, who their family members and friends are, and what kinds of devices they use.
Then, a sophisticated set of algorithms analyze the trove of data received from an EdTech app or website. manipulated their beliefs and distorted their view of the world at a time when they were particularly vulnerable, the HRW says in its report. In an e-mailed statement, Quebec’s ministry of education said it offers resources that can be used in distanced learning, but that school districts are responsible for choosing online platforms and applications. It also said it provided guidance on making sure students’ personal information was secure.Across the country, when COVID-19 swept onto Canadian shores in March, 2020, students were forced into online classrooms. Governments turned to educational apps and websites.
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