COVID-19 offered long-lasting impacts of the pandemic which shifted the whole education system for most countries around the world. And currently, edtech companies exploiting kids globally on the name of digital education by hoarding a massive amount of data and putting them under constant surveillance. While the edtech platforms are offering more room and convenience for remote learning; it is also hampering the human rights of the children by constantly tracking their behavior and also selling their data to the third party companies. This idea of human-rights-violating surveillance is being a part of the core infrastructure and it exploiting the whole generation.
The rapid integration of AI-powered tools edtech systems as altered the way how education used in operate. AI-systems are now an essential part of education as framed by Governments and the private sectors even though it is exploiting human right as greater magnitude. Public resources are exposed to such technologies and it is time to restructure instead of promoting these serious rights violations. While it is important to address the benefits of the AI assistance, it is also important to secure the on the Rights of the Child as kids cannot fight for their rights; they are being part of critical education systems that they are not well aware of. Studies and policy frameworks needs to be implemented while addressing transparency access. If seen from a broader context, there three critical human rights implications in the modern AI-powered edtech systems.
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Student Privacy, Constant Surveillance and Exploitation of Data
Digital classrooms are harming children's right to privacy to a greater extend and report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) show that more than 49 countries around the world have adopted edtech products in order to check on students when they are learning online. The report also showcases that 146 out of 164 government recommended edtech tools are engaged in data practices that violate a child’s right and staggering 89% of surveillance tools is truly concerning. However, a handful of countries like Argentina, Germany, France, and Japan have opted out from the student tracking technology. It only showcases how governments of different countries failed to protect privacy for their children of the country who can become the bright future of the nation.
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Student Exploitation by Commercial Factors
One of the most concerning fact is that 96% of application and edtech tools used in the schools of America collects student data and further exposes them to third parties and more than 78% of them share this data with the data brokers and advertisers. As a result, children are becoming more vulnerable and prone to cyber crimes as they are not protected in the modern education system. It is the duty of the government to protect children's rights and it all creates a full circle moment considering America’s modern education system and the government body. Yet many edtech products track the online behavior of children and these data if further shared since the government allows it. As a result, educational environments are slowly turning into commercial data hubs. Students and children need to be protected from commercial advertising ecosystems.
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Lack of Accountability and Transparency
EdTech companies lack accountability and transparency as they are exposing personal data of 10 million students and children to the third party companies. Students are increasingly getting exposed to cyber attacks and it is time to reconsider cybersecurity safeguards. The edtech systems are functioning without any transparency while demanding a huge amount of data extracting. This can put a lot of people in trouble including children, kids, parents, and public institutions.
Bottom Line
Moving forward in 2026, AI deployment in education should be re-engineered while maintaining the human rights standards and the fundamental initiatives must be taken by the government to keep the children safe from potential threats.
