Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood issued the following press release:
AG Hood Files Suit Against Google over Handling of Student Data
JACKSON— Attorney General Jim Hood announced today that the state has filed suit against Google Inc., over how the internet giant maintains and uses data collected from Mississippi public school students who have Google’s G Suite For Education accounts.
Google is accused of collecting personal information and search history obtained from its users in order to advance its own business interests and increase its profit, in violation of the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act.
The free, web-based tools were previously known as Google Apps for Education and were marketed by Google as a safe way for students and teachers to seamlessly collaborate and communicate across multiple internet-connected devices. Among the “tools” offered in the suite of products were Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive and Google Docs.
In 2015, Google signed the K-12 School Service Provider Pledge to Safeguard Student Privacy. By signing the pledge, Google promised, among other things, to “not collect, maintain, use or share student personal information beyond that needed for authorized educational/school purposes, or as authorized by the parent/student” and to “disclose clearly in contracts or privacy policies, including in a manner easy for parents to understand, what types of student personal information we collect, if any, and the purposes for which the information we maintain is used or shared with third parties.” The lawsuit alleges that Google fails to live up to its pledge and does not properly disclose the types of information it collects, maintains and uses, as well as whether and how that information is shared with third parties. Due to the multitude of unclear statements provided by Google, it is impossible to know exactly what student information Google is collecting and how Google is using that information.
“It is disturbing to think that one of the world’s most profitable corporations would try to make even more money by deceiving parents and taking advantage of Mississippi school children,” Attorney General Hood said. “Through this lawsuit, we want to know the extent of Google’s data mining and marketing of student information to third parties. I don’t think there could be any motivation other than greed for a company to deliberately keep secret how it collects and uses student information.”
While it is believed that more than half of Mississippi schools currently use Google products, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of the state, and it does not seek compensation on behalf of any schools or students. The Attorney General encouraged school administrators to thoroughly research any technology services that may be used by students, and he said it would be up to schools to determine whether they continue to using G Suite For Education.
“I have a duty to protect the rights and interests of all Mississippians,” the Attorney General said in a letter to school superintendents. “This includes holding Google accountable for any misrepresentations it has made regarding GSFE users’ private information that it processes, collects stores and uses for its own financial gain, and seeking a court order requiring Google to cease any unlawful practices.”
33 comments:
Instead of suing Google, just ask them to pay for some patrol schools! So tired of lestening to these crybabies.
While you are 'lestening', can you tell us what the hell a 'patrol school' is and its purpose?
Why was it filed it Lowndes County?
Hate to break it to you 3:41, but the AG's office has been the only source of income MS's had for years keeping Tater and Feel from throwing the State in bankruptcy while fellating their corporate friends.
4:35 - your workday in the Sillers Building is not supposed to be over yet, and you shouldn't be using the state's computers to further Conway's pr moves. Just because he doesn't work next door to you anymore - we all know he keeps track on you from Chickasaw County to make sure you try to cover his ass daily. But ---- go back to work suing somebody since that's how he has defined the job of the AG.
Hey, 4:32, Lowndes is a helluva lot closer to Chickasaw Co. than Hinds Co.
Isn't Chickasaw County in Mississippi. Ok...just checking. How does that hinder him in performing his duties? Educate me
Well 6:08, the job of AG is located and headquartered in Jackson. Public officials, neither elected nor poor regular hired help, get to choose the location of their office. Frankly, if his move of the office to Chickasaw County is ok, why in your opinion is he limited to being in MS? Maybe he should move his office to the coast in FL? Or maybe the mountains out west? Any reason he is restricted in your opinion to MS?
Can the Governor move his office out of Jackson, in your mind? If so, do you think that is an efficient way to operate government, when all his staff is located in Jackson? Maybe all the staff could work out of their homes throughout the state - now that would be a great recruiting tool for the best and brightest. And the legislators can all just stay in their hometowns as well, stop these sessions in the Capitol.
702.. you failed to show how he is duties are hindered, but I'll play your silly little game. The argument that it could be out of state is dumb and purely argumentative. Fordice lived in Madison right? If they can get the job done what does it matter. The job of AG and Gov are two different things all together(apples to oranges)
Whoever nailed the Hoodie (above) did a grand job. Elicited about six angry replies from the same state employee.
Up to you voter! But Hood has been mighty popular over multiple elections no matter where his can sits.
Hood has a great point whether you like him or not.
Hoodie here. Just for the record i started at 608. Dont know the other poster(s). Oh and im a Republican.
Hate to break your heart, 4:59. but 4:35 here. Not a government employee at all. Just an old guy smart enough to read the the bills and follow the money coming out of the the capitol. If you have a better idea to fund the hospitals, schools, et. al., or can show where else Feel is calling to beg for the money every year, please enlighten us. Until then, Hood bails out High Street, again.
We need more votech schools. Too many kids are pushed into going into college. We have manufacturing plants that are locating here and need skilled help. Also, construction will need skilled help to build the plants. By the 8th grade you can determine if a student wants to lean toward a college education or a trade/skill.
I didn't think it was possible for Hood to do something of which I approve.
Much ado about nothing. $10,000 per student because of a default browser setting? Get real. Bottom feeders.
The suit was likely filed where the evidence of using student information can best be demonstrated and proven.
That is what an AG should do.
Surely, you some of you don't think all State cases are tried in the Capitol?
Some of the commenters seem to ignore KF's posts and just pick out a noun and start trying to feel better about themselves by bullying others.
The erroneous assumptions are remarkable and reminiscent of the reminder to break down the word "assume" into " ass u me ".
Some of you never entertain the possibly that you " don't know what you don't know" and knowing what an AG can and cannot do or should or should not do is the first thing you need to understand before commenting on how well or poorly they are performing in the job.
More ironically, some of you rather obviously will tow some party line and yet then denounce all politicians in Congress as " crooked" or " liars" or " stupid" as if none of them belong to YOUR party !
Hmm. John Kitchens is the private attorney. Where have I heard that name before.....?
Sue a big company with lots of money hoping they will just cut a check to make you go away.
Sounds similar to a personal injury attorney.
I'm sure $10K per account will fix everything and not at all harm the business-relations climate of the state.
January 18, 2017 at 8:32 AM = Doesn't know what they boast of knowing here at JJ nearly every single day
The suit was likely filed where the evidence of using student information can best be demonstrated and proven.
That is what an AG should do.
Surely, you some of you don't think all State cases are tried in the Capitol?
@8:32 - I'm the person who asked why it was filed in Lowndes. Thanks for answering. No, I don't think all State cases are tried in the capital. But was curious why one venue was chosen over another. Wasn't suggesting anything nefarious or snarky. Just an honest question because I do know there are things I don't know.
Again? Who's paying Hood to file this one after the humiliation he suffered when he merely issued a subpoena to Google?
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/mississippi-ag-jim-hood-sues-google-again/
Google Conway Twitty!
One day you jaded people will be wronged and you will seek civil justice only to realize Republicans were so jealous of the idea that somebody might earn a Dime in the process of being vindicated that they abolished the court system altogether.
Meanwhile insurance companies sell $$$ insurance policies which provide coverages for risks.
Tort reform has seen MS remain last in the USA to do business.
Medical malpractice premiums have increased....not decreased. Indeed harm from medical procedures has actually increased.
We are guided (and live with and amongst) some of the most ignorant people in the country.
We are guided (and live with and amongst) some of the most ignorant people in the country.
Yup, you are holding us back. Maybe there is some other Utopian liberal enclave in the other 49 where you'd be happier.
7:42, Fordice 'lived' in Madison for the last couple of years of his term; BUT he came in to his office in downtown Jackson - you know, the Governor's office - to do his job. Where someone lives is not the question even considering that the Governor is provided public housing. I don't give a damn where AG Hood 'lives' - it is where his office is and how he conducts the office.
7:36 - love that trial lawyer logic. INSURANCE COMPANIES sell $$$ insurance policies which provide coverage for risks.
That is correct. But they sell it, and companies buy it, for legitimate risks. Not for bullshit lawsuits trying to extort money, or to promote some political agenda.
And your statistic about medical malpractice insurance premiums having increased is the same bullshit. Please provide the time period you are comparing and the basis for such an idiotic statement. And if you can prove the second part of your statement, give the facts to support it as well. Certainly hasn't been shown by an increase in MedMal judgments - in fact, has not been shown by an increase in MedMal filings. Both are significantly reduced. Of course, part of that was because the 'bought before they went to trial judges' - and juries - have caught the rath of their criminal enterprise, and there are not the same friendly jurisdictions anymore.
You might be correct - but the folks you point to with your final comment must have your finger pointed at the mirror.
939... again zero reasons were given on how the location of Hood's office hinders in any way completing his duties as AG.
OK 10:15 - glad you are at least off of your state office computer and at home - probably. Hood has dozens, no hundreds, of employees located in Jackson. Most in the Sillers Building, where the state spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to build out his office space as he required it to be done. His job, more than anything else, is to supervise those employees. His job is not to go into court (although he does whenever it is politically positive for him to do so, although it generally hurts his cases); his job is to supervise the operation of his office. He is not the state's DA, his job is to manage a big-ass law firm.
If this was any other law firm, operating anywhere, it would not allow its managing partner to operate somewhere a hundred plus miles away from where all the other employees (lawyers, clerks, etc.) were working. Why Hood thinks he is 'special' (other than his hair style, of course) and doesn't need to meet the expected requirements of his office is not explained.
Has he found a crevice in the law allowing him to do this? Possibly; no probably. He is good at finding such crevices. But if this was being done by any of the Republican officials in office, of which there are seven statewides, the Dems in the legislature would be raising absolutely holy hell. They do that on most anything anyway. But this is Jim - the holy one. So you think he should get a pass.
OR, more likely, he told you to be on here defending him against all these crazy folks. I hope you are getting overtime pay for your work.
If this was any other law firm, operating anywhere, it would not allow its managing partner to operate somewhere a hundred plus miles away from where all the other employees (lawyers, clerks, etc.) were working.
THE Bottom Line.
Hood really should jump into the lawsuits against Navient if he wanted to help make a difference in a lot of people's lives.
8:12
What gives you that idea? I have filed many actions in counties long distances away from the firm at which I practice. Many of those who opine on this issue have no idea about large scale actions, imho.
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