As a concerned student in Seattle, I am deeply troubled by the invasion of privacy that comes with the use of GoGuardian software in our school system. This software, which is designed to monitor students' online activities, has raised serious privacy concerns among us. We believe that every student should have a right to their privacy and this right should not be compromised under any circumstance.

GoGuardian is currently being used by Seattle Public Schools (SPS) as an online surveillance tool. It allows educators and administrators to view students' screens in real-time, track websites visited, and even control students' devices remotely, such as blocking certain websites that teachers think may be dangerous. This software can and has outed students to their parents. The software will flag websites like college applications, therapy/counciling stuff, etc. While it may be argued that these measures are taken for safety purposes or academic integrity, they also pose a significant threat to our personal privacy.

According to a report from the National Education Policy Center (NEPC), there's been an alarming increase in school-based student surveillance which can potentially harm students’ privacy rights and foster mistrust between them and educators. The report also suggests that such practices can disproportionately affect marginalized communities within schools.

We understand the need for safe digital learning environments but we firmly believe there must be balance – one that respects our rights as individuals while still maintaining necessary safeguards for educational integrity.

We call on SPS officials to reconsider their use of GoGuardian software in light of these concerns about student privacy invasion. We urge you all - parents, teachers, fellow students - who value individual rights and freedoms within our educational system - join us in asking SPS to discontinue its use immediately! Please sign this petition today!