It discusses software being marketed by several companies to UK (and US) schools to monitor the internet communications of pupils, some as young as four, for signs of (religious) "radicalisation."
The software simplistically monitors for lists of words and phrases such as "Jihobbyist," dodgy organisations, and the names of various ISIS propaganda videos.
For example: John Cantlie, War on Islam, Jihobbyist, Pogrom, YODO, Storm Front, Kuffs, Message to America.
When use of such a term is detected, a screenshot can be forwarded to a teacher. Perhaps the teacher should then dial 999 and ask for the police?
A jihobbyist is someone who sympathises, but rather than getting themselves stuck somewhere warm and sunny like Iraq or Syria, they instead only cheer them on from the comfort of their own home. You learn something new every day.
I suspect some companies are going to make a lot of money out of this — and young children are going to have much fun winding up the teachers.
(Score: 2) by CirclesInSand on Sunday June 14 2015, @02:44PM
If you try to lock down school computers, you will end up with students who are more educated about the reality of computer security than you are comfortable with.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 14 2015, @10:23PM
I am comfortable with students learning about computer security.