Dawn C. Chmielewski reports: The children’s online site Webkinz is the focus of a complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission by a child advocacy group, which is urging the agency to investigate corporate parent Ganz for alleged deceptive and unfair trade practices. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood on Tuesday accused the Canadian owner…
Category: Youth & Schools
Idaho: Cars Can Be Searched at School Without Suspicion of Crime
I had tweeted about this decision last week, but I seem to have forgotten to post it on the blog as well (hey, I’m old, I forget…). Thanks to a reader who sent this in with a subject line, “i figured this would piss you and your readers off as much as it does me..” He’s…
COLUMN: Students’ private information available for anyone to see
A senior at University of Kentucky has a column about the online student directory, privacy, and safety. Her commentary is a useful reminder that an exemption in the federal law that protects the privacy of students’ education records (FERPA) may pose a risk to student safety and that just because universities can reveal information does not…
Mississippi Tests Tracking Devices for Juvenile Offenders
Andrea Williams reports on an anklet tracking system in Meridian, Mississippi that’s being used as an alternative to detention for some juvenile offenders: Since the program started in March, a total of 130 house arrest monitors have been placed on juvenile offenders here; a fraction of those are repeat offenders. However, program officials say overall,…