Webcam Spying Suit in Lower Merion School District Triggers War of Words
In a carefully worded legal statement, Lynn Matsko, the vice principal of Harriton High in Philadelphia, accused of confronting 15-year-old student, Blake Robbins, with a snapshot taken of him at home, using spyware placed on his school issued laptop, has denied any wrongdoing.
She said and I quote, “At no time have I ever monitored a student via a laptop webcam.” I do not like her answer, as it is evasive. She said she did not monitor him at home, which is semantics, as she has refused to explain how she ended up with a webcam taken photo of Robbins at home in his bedroom.
She can say that, but in the back of her mind, thanks to a lawyer think, “Yes, I did not monitor him in his bedroom, as I am not the school’s IT tech, but I was passed the illegally taken photograph of a minor in his bedroom, that was snapped without his permission or that of his parents.”
Robbins father also received confirmation from Lynn Matsko that the school can remotely turn on the laptops, using spyware they installed before handing them out to students.
The school also admitted they have this capability, have used it and now due to a court order, deactivated the spy program, that has the capability to watch students and families in their homes.
Though, the school has admitted activating the spyware to take snapshots of students in different situations, they too are claiming they did not do so to spy. Semantics once again. It reminds me of America’s weed answer to Bob Marley, former President, Bill Clinton, saying he tried marijuana, but never inhaled. If you say so, Bubba. Once again, semantics.