ACLU: Lower Merion lawsuit seems like clear privacy violation

Vic Walczak is the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. He says this case seems to be a clear violation of fourth amendment privacy rights.

A high school student and his parents have sued the Lower Merion School District, alleging that school officials spied on him at home through the webcam of his school-issued laptop.

Vic Walczak is the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. He says this case seems to be a clear violation of fourth amendment privacy rights.

Walczak: I’ve never heard of anything like this and I’ve been doing this work with ACLU for almost 20 years and I thought that I was beyond being surprised but it just seems to me that this is so beyond the pale. Part of the punishment for school officials should be to go back and take 9th grade civics classes.

According to the federal lawsuit, a picture was taken of student Blake Robbins at home through a remotely activated webcam.

The suit alleges his parents first learned about the photo last November when the school’s assistant principal allegedly contacted them about improper behavior by their son.

The suit also claims that all Harriton students were provided with laptops and it is believed many of the captured images may consist of minors and parents or friends in compromising or embarrassing positions.

The Robbins family and School District have declined requests for comment. District officials have declined multiple requests for comment.