Hi !
In our project, we've spoken with many parents. This is both because we receive inquiries from parents concerned about privacy, and because we've interviewed guardians when collecting the opinions of the registered individuals.
One of the queries we've received is from this parent:
Hello,
I am currently investigating how well my child's privacy is protected in school when the school uses Google Workspace for Education. I'd like to ask if you can guide me further in my search for studies and knowledge.
Do you have any information on how data is used and stored regarding children's use of YouTube or other algorithm-based services? It is clearly communicated that children do not receive targeted advertising on Google Workspace for Education, and it's also clearly stated that the data should not be used for this purpose (which, I believe, has become illegal in the EU).
That's very good. HOWEVER, I also think that "advertising" — understood as promoted content — has become a rudimentary understanding of online behavioral processing. And therefore, also for privacy. Because advertising today is not the same as it was in the old days.
For example, I read that Google stores data about behavior on YouTube. Do we know what kind of information they store? Does this also apply to Google Workspace for Education? And what happens to this data if Google changes ownership or if services at Google are sold?
I'm not so concerned about advertising, but I am concerned about data related to behavior — and especially what this data could be used for in the future when it's stored while the child grows up and goes through the vulnerable teenage years.
I understand that these are extremely broad and difficult questions. I don't expect answers to everything and am just as curious to understand what we don't know as much as what we do.
Very grateful for your help and response!
(Yes, we've received consent from them to share this with you, a subscriber to this newsletter. It's great that you're vigilant about this—pat yourself on the back!)
Frequently asked questions
This is something we notice repeatedly. Guardians have children in school who use Google Workspace For Education and encounter ads when they're on YouTube.
YouTube is an additional service within Google Workspace for Education and operates under slightly different terms than the "core services" of the platform. This is one reason why there are ads included.
Then, the question of behavior-based marketing naturally arises. It might seem like the student is presented with school-relevant ads or ads related to their search queries. How is this acceptable?
Does this mean my child is being profiled? Does it mean Google is building a profile based on everything my child does within Google Workspace for Education? And that the child carries this profile over to their private Google account after finishing school?
What's the answer?
We don't know yet. However, these are issues we aim to address in our DPIA. Many guardians highlight these privacy concerns, and they must be addressed!
I wish you a wonderful, privacy-friendly week-end!
Best regards,
Ida Thorsrud
Project manager national DPIA
This newsletter was translated from Norwegian to English with assistance from ChatGPT by OpenAI. While it guided our translation, we made independent editorial choices. Any discrepancies result from this combined approach.
