New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection
The New York
Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is providing targeted
privacy protection tips for adults and children ahead of the new school year.
Under New York State’s Education Law, if you are a parent of a child in the New
York State schools, you have rights regarding the privacy and security of your
child’s personal information and data. New York State law requires each
educational agency to publish a parents’ bill of rights for data privacy and
security on its website.
“Safety is a top
priority for parents when sending their children back to school,” said Secretary of State Walter T.
Mosley. “With technology being used more and more as a learning
tool, New York parents and caregivers should know their rights when it comes to
protecting their children’s personal information and privacy.”
Think
About Children’s Privacy:
Technology
has become a permanent fixture of the education experience. The Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) issued a policy statement putting educational technology on
notice of their obligations to protect children’s privacy. In other words,
educational technology companies must comply with privacy requirements and
can’t require parents and schools to agree to the comprehensive surveillance of
children for kids to use their learning tools. Thus, parents and guardians need
to place close attention to the technology children use, what information is
collected and how it is used.
Some
important things for parents to know:
- Your
child’s personal information cannot be sold or released for any commercial
purposes.
- If
your child is under age 18, you have the right to inspect and review the
complete contents of your child’s education records.
Other
ways to pay close attention to your child’s personal information:
- Protect documents that contain a child’s personal
information. Understand
where your child’s information is stored. Ask how after-school
organizations and sports clubs secure their records: Are digital records
connected to the internet and, if so, are they encrypted? Are physical
records locked in filing cabinets? Who has access?
- Be careful when providing identifying information to
after-school activities and sports clubs upon registration. If asked for a Social Security number (SSN), inquire
why it is needed and ask to use another identifier. Oftentimes
organizations include the SSN request as a formality and it may not be
mandatory.
- Only label books, backpacks and lunches with the
student’s full name and any other information on the inside! Using initials on the outside is okay, but names, even
just first names, on the outside can create an unsafe situation.
- Discuss internet safety tips with children and remind them to be careful about opening attachments
and suspicious emails. For tips on how to stay safe online, please see
information from this January 2020 Consumer Alert.
- Both parents and students should be careful on all
social media platforms: don’t overshare. Any information you post can be seen and utilized by
identity thieves. Avoid sharing personal information including full names,
addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers or even where they go to
school. Social media posts often reveal sensitive information
unintentionally. Cybercriminals look for content that can reveal answers
to security questions used to reset passwords, making accounts vulnerable
to identity theft.
Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, X and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips
that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to
receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.
The New York State Division
of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a
business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on
their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday
to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer
complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via X at @NYSConsumer or Facebook.
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