# Hol-eeee Crap!! School Suspends Student...After Spying on Him **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 18, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510 "2010-02-18T19:42:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/381 "2010-04-25T17:00:55Z")
[ducksandruns]I suppose the Board could recoup its costs by selling the kiddie vids over the internet.[/ducksandruns.] ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/382 "2010-08-19T14:02:42Z")
Update: No federal charges [will be filed.](http://www.tgdaily.com/security-brief/51155-school-that-spied-with-student-webcams-wont-face-charges) > [@](#): > > The US Attorney’s Office has declined to bring any formal charges against the Lower Merion school district in Pennsylvania because it says it cannot prove that there was any criminal intent. Looks like we’re left with a district administration staffed by idiots to blame. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/383 "2010-08-19T14:33:50Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Update: No federal charges [will be filed.](http://www.tgdaily.com/security-brief/51155-school-that-spied-with-student-webcams-wont-face-charges) > > > [@](#): > > > > The US Attorney’s Office has declined to bring any formal charges against the Lower Merion school district in Pennsylvania because it says it cannot prove that there was any criminal intent. > > Looks like we’re left with a district administration staffed by idiots to blame. I wouldn’t look towards the criminal intent because of action. I’d look at the criminal intent based upon INACTION. Inaction that the school district knew there was the potential for this type of situation and did nothing to circumvent it. Inaction in that the pictures were captured and stored on computer systems without the school district having any plan to eliminate them once it was determined nothing illegal was occurring. Inaction in that, whoever reviewed the pictures did nothing to address the issue of children having their pictures taken in various states of undress inside their own homes. Intent can go beyond sweaty old men on a school board rubbing their hands together in glee cackling “finally now we get to have pictures of naked children and no one will be the wiser!” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/384 "2010-08-19T21:49:54Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Update: No federal charges [will be filed.](http://www.tgdaily.com/security-brief/51155-school-that-spied-with-student-webcams-wont-face-charges) > > > [@](#): > > > > The US Attorney’s Office has declined to bring any formal charges against the Lower Merion school district in Pennsylvania because it says it cannot prove that there was any criminal intent. > > Looks like we’re left with a district administration staffed by idiots to blame. Aaand we’re off to Lawsuit Land. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/385 "2010-08-19T23:34:46Z")
They didn’t intend to spy on the kids? What, it happened by magic? Of course they intended to spy. Perhaps they did not intend to offend anyone. Perhaps they did not realize that what they did was a big no-no. But yes, they intended to spy. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/386 "2010-08-20T01:43:47Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > > [@runner pat](#): > > > > Update: No federal charges [will be filed.](http://www.tgdaily.com/security-brief/51155-school-that-spied-with-student-webcams-wont-face-charges) > > > > Looks like we’re left with a district administration staffed by idiots to blame. > > I wouldn’t look towards the criminal intent because of action. I’d look at the criminal intent based upon INACTION. > > Inaction that the school district knew there was the potential for this type of situation and did nothing to circumvent it. Inaction in that the pictures were captured and stored on computer systems without the school district having any plan to eliminate them once it was determined nothing illegal was occurring. Inaction in that, whoever reviewed the pictures did nothing to address the issue of children having their pictures taken in various states of undress inside their own homes. > > Intent can go beyond sweaty old men on a school board rubbing their hands together in glee cackling “finally now we get to have pictures of naked children and no one will be the wiser!” They call that _negligence_, and it’s not (usually) criminal. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/387 "2010-08-20T01:47:11Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > They call that _negligence_, and it’s not (usually) criminal. Will it be if just one of those pictures of Cindy in her undies shows up on imagefap? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![palacheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e57/32.png) [@palacheck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palacheck)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/388 "2010-08-20T05:28:35Z")
Slight hijack here. Is this the future of voyeur? I know there are ways to hijack a computer and basically have free reign of the entire system including the webcam. I guess then you could simply record it all on your computer for review later. Sometimes I leave my laptop open when I’m getting dressed or coming out of shower. Of course I’m hideous so NO ONE would be interested in my live feed…but what about the countless high school and college girls that have webcams? I’m going to put some electrical tape over my laptop’s webcam right now. Ew. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/389 "2010-08-20T06:55:36Z")
Well, if audio is captured, it’s probably covered by your state’s wiretapping laws. Don’t worry, you look fine. Except for that mole. (Kidding! Don’t freak out!) ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/390 "2010-08-20T10:22:00Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > > [@runner pat](#): > > > > Update: No federal charges [will be filed.](http://www.tgdaily.com/security-brief/51155-school-that-spied-with-student-webcams-wont-face-charges) > > > > Looks like we’re left with a district administration staffed by idiots to blame. > > Aaand we’re off to Lawsuit Land. They’re already in Lawsuit Land. The federal investigation was just ancillary. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/391 "2010-08-20T12:52:46Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > They didn’t intend to spy on the kids? What, it happened by magic? Of course they intended to spy. Perhaps they did not intend to offend anyone. Perhaps they did not realize that what they did was a big no-no. But yes, they intended to spy. They didn’t intend to get caught. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/392 "2010-08-20T13:20:50Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@Muffin](#): > > > > They didn’t intend to spy on the kids? What, it happened by magic? Of course they intended to spy. Perhaps they did not intend to offend anyone. Perhaps they did not realize that what they did was a big no-no. But yes, they intended to spy. > > They didn’t intend to get caught. “Honey, I swear. I never thought you’d find out!” -Joe ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/393 "2010-08-20T14:59:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > They call that _negligence_, and it’s not (usually) criminal. They should still fire them for being so fucking stupid. Or would that be too simple and too obvious??? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/394 "2010-08-20T15:55:37Z")
> [@palacheck](#): > > what about the countless high school and college girls that have webcams? [pet peeve] High school and college girls _who_, not that, unless you think high school and college girls aren’t people. [/pet peeve] ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/395 "2010-08-20T16:02:15Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > [@palacheck](#): > > > > what about the countless high school and college girls that have webcams? > > [pet peeve] > High school and college girls _who_, not that, unless you think high school and college girls aren’t people. > [/pet peeve] Is it grammatically correct if I only consider them to be sex objects? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/396 "2010-08-20T16:19:28Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > > [pet peeve] > > High school and college girls _who_, not that, unless you think high school and college girls aren’t people. > > [/pet peeve] > > Is it grammatically correct if I only consider them to be sex objects? Those would be things so, yes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/397 "2010-08-20T16:32:36Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > [@Merijeek](#): > > > > Is it grammatically correct if I only consider them to be sex objects? > > Those would be things so, yes. 🙂 Mom would be, like, so proud. Well, half proud. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/398 "2010-08-20T18:05:46Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > > Those would be things so, yes. 🙂 > > Mom would be, like, so proud. Well, half proud. > > -Joe As proud as a thing can be, I’d expect. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/399 "2010-08-20T18:44:39Z")
**palacheck** , could you stand a bit more to the left when you get out of the shower? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/400 "2010-08-20T19:31:04Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > > [@Merijeek](#): > > > > Mom would be, like, so proud. Well, half proud. > > > > -Joe > > As proud as a thing can be, I’d expect. To be fair, mom hasn’t been a college or high school girl in…well, I wouldn’t actually survive typing an actual number. Her dinosaur-riding peers would kill me long before I got that far. -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510.md?page=21)