The New York Times reports Reps. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Luke Messer (R-IN) plan to introduce legislation today to limit how education-technology companies can use data collected about students in grades K-12. The Student Digital Privacy and Parental Rights Act would prevent companies that provide digital services including homework portals, online gradebooks and student emails from knowingly sharing or selling that data to marketers and creating marketing dossiers of the students. Polis called it “a first step in providing a framework that can address the concerns of parents and educators and, at the same time, allow the promise of education technology to transform our schools.” However, the Electronic Privacy Information Center’s Khaliah Barnes said the bill contains “huge loopholes” and “escape clauses.” (Registration may be required to access this story.) Editor’s Note: Find a round-up of U.S. privacy legislation efforts here.
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