PA School offers practical lesson in George Orwell's 1984 -

The Lower Merion School district in Ardmore, Pennsylvania is currently the subject of a class action lawsuit in the Eastern Pennsylvania district court.

It seems the son of Michael and Holly Robbins was disciplined for "improper behavior in his home" by assistant principal Lindy  Matsko, citing a still image taken from the school issued laptop's webcam as evidence.

During discussions Michael Robbins had with the assistant principal, Matsko confirmed that the school had  the ability to activate the webcam at anytime, without permission of anyone using the computer.

Late Thursday evening, in an open letter to parents and guardians, the school superintendent Dr. McGinley (pictured) confirmed that the school and the laptops did have the capability of spying on the students in their leisure hours. No release date for any pictures or videos have been published.

There is no information, at this time, that the school has installed cameras in the school bathroom stalls, relying solely on any images taken at home.

While this is a civil case, at the moment, the laws alleged to have been broken are.

Federal
Civil Rights Act
4th Amendment
Electronic Communications Privacy Act
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
Stored Communication Act

State
Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Act
Pennsylvania common law (1)

In addition, it is obvious, that any number of child pornography laws may have been violated.

It should also be noted that, while not laws, the following principles were also violated.

Common decency
Common sense
Good taste
Good judgment

School administrators were contacted for comment, but as of this writing have not responded.

Amazingly at this time there have been no reports of criminal charges or, maybe even more amazingly, lynchings.

Reporting from the land of the free and the home of government intrusion into your very home, and on your children.