JOHN WALSH

(U.S. SENATE)—Senator John Walsh cosponsored the Protecting Student Privacy Act of 2014 to increase safeguards and protect privacy rights for students and their families.

The Protecting Student Privacy Act of 2014 strengthens privacy standards associated with the increased electronic storage of student data such as grades, test scores, attendance records, family relationships, and disciplinary data with private companies.

“Protecting the right to privacy is an essential component of our civil liberties as Americans,” Walsh said.  “As technology advances, we must ensure safeguards are in place to preserve privacy rights for all Americans—especially students who will be the next generation of leaders defending and advancing our American values.”

Walsh’s legislation:

·         Requires data security safeguards be in place to protect sensitive student data.

·         Prohibits using students’ personal information for advertising or marketing products and services.

·         Provides parents or guardians with the right to access personal information regarding their child and edit content that is incorrect.

·         Enforces transparency the identity of all outside parties that have access to student information.

·         Minimizes the amount of personally information that is transferred from schools to private companies.

·         Eliminates private companies’ ability to maintain dossiers on students in perpetuity by requiring them to delete personal information when it is no longer needed for its specific use.

Walsh’s first action as Senator was sponsoring the USA Freedom Act to restrict the government’s ability to spy on Montanans and other American citizens.