Petition to Ban LanSchool at Camberwell High School: Protect Student Privacy

At Camberwell High School, students are raising significant concerns about the use of LanSchool, a software installed on school-issued devices that allows teachers to monitor student activity during class. While the intention may be to help teachers manage and guide classroom behavior, the reality is that LanSchool has far-reaching and troubling implications, especially when it comes to student privacy.

Why is LanSchool a Problem?

LanSchool does more than simply monitor classroom activities—it runs continuously on student devices, even when they are at home. This means that the software has access to student microphones, cameras, and computers 24/7, regardless of whether they are at school or in their personal space. While the teachers cannot actively use these monitoring features outside of class, the fact that this software remains operational and inexorable in students’ homes is a violation of privacy.

For students, this raises deeply unsettling questions:

• Who has access to my computer and when?
• Can my microphone or camera be activated without my knowledge?
• Why is this software running when I'm not even at school?

These questions have created a culture of unease, where students feel that they are being watched even in the comfort of their own homes. This is particularly alarming when we consider that most students use the same devices for both schoolwork and personal activities. Whether they are chatting with friends, working on assignments, or just browsing the internet, the presence of LanSchool creates a constant worry about how much of their private lives is being monitored.

The Dangers of 24/7 Surveillance

Though schools may argue that LanSchool is an essential tool for classroom management, it crosses the line when it continues to run beyond school hours. The very idea that a software has the potential to access students' personal data, cameras, and microphones at any time is an invasion of privacy, especially in a world where cybersecurity is an ever-growing concern.

• Mic Access: LanSchool has the ability to activate student microphones. Even if not actively used, this potential is frightening for students and their families.
• Webcam Access: The fact that any software can activate a camera is enough to make anyone feel vulnerable, especially when the computer is in a student’s home environment.
• Data Collection: With constant access to the device, LanSchool can theoretically collect a vast amount of data, adding to worries about what is being logged and how it is being used.

Students deserve a break from being monitored when they leave the classroom, yet LanSchool creates a feeling of constant surveillance. This isn't conducive to a healthy learning environment, and it certainly doesn’t foster trust between students and the school.

A Tool or Malware?

LanSchool is marketed as a “classroom management tool,” but many feel that its functions make it more akin to malware. Software that runs 24/7, with admin-level access to cameras, microphones, and other sensitive parts of a computer, resembles the characteristics of malicious software. Many students and families are questioning why such invasive measures are needed for educational purposes.

In fact, LanSchool's reputation is dismal among users. On the Chrome Web Store, it holds a 1.2-star rating, based on nearly 3,900 reviews. The vast majority of these reviews come from students who have firsthand experience with the software, sharing their frustrations with its invasive nature, lagging performance, and unwelcome interference.

Why We’re Calling for a Ban

We, the students of Camberwell High School, believe that our school should prioritize our right to privacy. Education is important, but it should not come at the cost of being constantly monitored. There are alternative tools available that offer teachers the ability to manage classrooms without compromising the personal privacy of students. LanSchool is not the only option—and it’s certainly not the best option.

By signing this petition, you will be helping to:

• Protect the privacy of all students at Camberwell High School.
• Ensure safer, more ethical use of technology in the classroom.
• Encourage the school to seek alternatives that don’t violate students’ personal privacy.

We are not against the use of technology in education, but we strongly believe that any software used should respect students' privacy and boundaries. Camberwell High School has a responsibility to create a learning environment where students feel safe, both in and out of the classroom. The use of LanSchool goes against this principle, making students feel that they are under constant surveillance.