Pennsylvania school district settles webcam suits for $610,000

A Pennsylvania school board voted unanimously to pay $610,000 to settle class action suits brought by the families of two high school students who were unknowingly photographed at home on district-issued laptops.

As reported on our website on September 9, 2010, a district court judge, in Robbins v. Lower Merion School District, 2010 WL 1976869 (E.D. Pa. 2010), ordered the district to stop activating webcams on district-issued laptops while they are being used by students in their homes.

Pursuant to the court's injunction, the district adopted a policy that permits webcams to be activated only with the written consent of students and parents.