Protecting Student Data in Online Learning: What’s Really at Stake

When schools moved to remote learning during the pandemic, they did so quickly—often without fully planning how students’ data would be handled. Students weren’t just logging into platforms; they were being tracked. Every video call, every assignment submitted, every click in a learning app generates data. That data is collected, stored, and sometimes shared—often without parents or students knowing what’s happening. The shift wasn’t just about teaching from home. It was about building digital footprints that could end up in the hands of companies, third parties, or even future employers. Without clear rules, schools are left scrambling to understand what’s being collected, who has access, and how long it stays online.

The risks go beyond privacy. Schools now depend on tech vendors for tools that run classrooms, but those vendors aren’t always held to the same standards. They may keep data longer than needed, share it with advertisers, or use it in ways that weren’t agreed upon. Students’ personal interactions—what they ask, how long they spend on tasks, how they respond in discussions—are being turned into profiles. These aren’t just learning records. They’re behavioral data that can be used to target ads or even make assumptions about a student’s abilities or interests. And when video meetings happen, audio and video are captured by default—sometimes without anyone realizing it. That means sensitive classroom content or personal conversations could be recorded and shared without consent.

Key Risks in Student Data Use

• Data Tracking & Student Profiles: Platforms collect detailed activity—what students ask, how long they spend on tasks, how they engage in discussions. This data is often bundled into profiles used for learning recommendations or sold to advertisers. These profiles can reveal sensitive personal details, opening doors to bias or unfair treatment.
• Privacy Risks in Video Conferencing: Tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams record audio and video by default. Many users don’t know how to turn off screen sharing or recordings, which increases the chance of sensitive content being exposed or shared without consent.
• Vendor Data Security & Third-Party Access: Schools rely on outside vendors for software and services. These vendors may have different security practices, longer data retention policies, and less oversight than schools. Some share student data with other companies for marketing or analytics without clear consent.
• Lack of Transparency & Data Governance: Terms of service are often long, vague, and written in language that parents and students can’t easily understand. Without clear rules about who sees data, how it’s used, and how long it’s kept, accountability is weak.
• Long-Term Implications for Student Data: The data gathered now could follow students into college or jobs. Employers or admissions offices might access these profiles, which could influence decisions based on information that wasn’t meant to be shared.

We can’t afford to treat student data as just another digital byproduct. Every click, every meeting, every assignment is part of a record that should be protected. Schools, tech providers, parents, and educators all need to work together—now—to set clear rules, limit data collection, and ensure students’ privacy remains a top priority. Without that, the shift to online learning could do more harm than good.