while schools related to Spain They continue to use Google services extensively, Denmark is trying to ban them. The Danish data protection authority (Datatilsysnet) found that the American tech giant’s use of student data violates European privacy law.
In a statement published on Wednesday, the Danish regulator ruled that there was no legal basis for Google to extract and use user data “for its own purposes”. students People who do their schoolwork with a laptop chromebook and with the Google Workplace for Education learning service.
Until now, Google has been using student data to measure performance and develop new features, some of which rely on artificial intelligence (AI), for its educational platform as well as its browser. Chromium and operating system. Datatilsysnet’s comment is that this use violates legislation by not guaranteeing children’s privacy. The regulator allows the use of data to provide services, improve their security, facilitate communication and comply with legal obligations.
The ban is obvious
In its decision, the authority states that Danish cities did not conduct a sufficiently comprehensive study to determine this situation. risk What Google products represent before their use is allowed schools local. As a result, a total of 53 municipalities in the country are instructed to regulate their practices to stop the transfer of student data to Google or to obtain a legal basis and guarantee that the company will refrain from such illegal use.
City councils must explain how they will comply with the decision by March 1. As of August 1, unauthorized use of data will be completely prohibited. This restriction does not directly imply: Forbidden It brings significant limitations for Chromebooks. Google may choose to change its methods to comply with European data protection law. Failure to do so could lead to these computers being phased out from Danish schools.
It took the Danish authority four and a half years to reach this conclusion. That’s when Jesper Graugaard, a parent and activist concerned about Google’s presence in schools, warned the regulator that the company could inappropriately use minors’ data, as has been documented.
What about in Spain?
Google Chromebooks have been rolling out in schools in Spain for years. Its practice has raised doubts, especially among advocates of the law. digital rightsrequires officials to opt for public alternatives that do not profit from student data. “Schools and institutes produce a lot of content and they don’t own their materials,” explains Simona Levi, founder of activist platform Xnet. “Managing this data can have consequences.”
El Periódico de Cataluña of the Prensa Ibérica group contacted the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) to find out if there is an ongoing investigation into the use of Google in the classroom. Last year the Spanish regulator opened an enforcement file against the Canary Islands Ministry of Education for failing to include impact assessment in its agreement with Google; This was a violation of European law. However, many experts, including Xnet, said that this was insufficient.