The FBI and federal prosecutors have joined an investigation of a Pennsylvania-area school district accused of spying on students with remotely activated webcams.
The federal probe was prompted by a lawsuit filed by the parents of one Blake J. Robbins – who accused district officials of remotely snapping webcam photos of their son.
The Robbins family became aware of the alleged breach of privacy when Blake was disciplined for “improper behavior” in his home.
However, the school district insists that the webcams were installed to prevent the theft of over 2,620 expensive laptops.
“The district never did and never would use such tactics as a basis for disciplinary action,” said superintendent Christopher McGinley in a statement obtained by Reuters.
Nevertheless, the US Attorney’s office contended that the incident warranted a proactive investigation by federal authorities.
“The issues raised by these allegations are wide-ranging and involve the meeting of the new world of cyberspace with that of physical space,” US Attorney Michael Levy noted in an official statement.
