WebcamGate 2009: A High School's Laptop Initiative Turned Into A National Spying Scandal

Cybercrime Journal’s newest YouTube Brief video, produced by Taylor Fox, seems to be again at a riveting privateness and surveillance story that gripped college students, dad and mom, and educators throughout the U.S.

In 2009, a 15-year-old named Blake Robbins was known as to the principal’s workplace and accused of taking medication. The proof? A webcam photograph… taken in his personal bed room.

Blake was only a regular teen at Harriton Excessive, in Philadelphia. However that yr, the varsity gave each scholar a brand-new MacBook. It was presupposed to be a dream—homework, AIM chats, video video games—all at your fingertips.

Besides that dream got here with a darkish twist. The laptops had software program known as ‘Theft Observe’ meant to find misplaced or stolen computer systems. However as an alternative, it secretly took 1000’s of photographs of scholars at residence. With out their data. With out their consent.

When a photograph surfaced of Blake holding what gave the impression to be medication, the varsity freaked out. However Blake hadn’t touched medication. That ‘proof’? It was only a misshapen Mike and Ike sweet from a video he despatched to a buddy.

The case went viral. It was known as WebcamGate. The FBI uncovered over 56,000 photos taken on college students’ laptops. 36 college students had been focused at residence. Many by no means had a lacking laptop computer. And nonetheless… their privateness was stripped away.

Blake and his household sued. Settlements had been reached, however a lot of the cash went to attorneys. His sister Paige sued later, fearing the photographs might destroy her future. In the meantime, the varsity defended itself, claiming it by no means ‘spied’ on college students.

What occurred to Blake wasn’t an anomaly. It was a preview of how scholar surveillance might turn into regular. Is that this just the start?

Blake left Pennsylvania at 18. The college? Nonetheless denying wrongdoing.

That laptop computer – that photograph – modified how America thinks about privateness in faculties as we speak. (Right here’s Blake’s present Instagram account)

Watch the Video