New Law Could Hinder Cyberbullying Investigations, Says Education Group

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) is questioning a proposal that could hinder investigations into cyber bullying and “sexting.”

A bill that got its first public hearing this week would limit the ability of landlords, employers or school officials to access the personal web sites of tenants, employees or students. Authors of the bill say it’s designed to protect privacy rights. But Dan Rossmiller of the WASB says it could prevent schools from tracking down cyber bullies.

“The bill could have the unintended consequence of causing schools to backtrack on the extent to which they permit students to even possess smart phones and other such devices at school,” says Rossmiller.

Since the bill would make it impossible for schools to get details on a student’s phone activity, says Rossmiller, “they might just take the view that you have to assume the worst.”

Sponsors of the bill have agreed to work with Rossmiller to tweak the legislation to insure that school officials can investigate students suspected of using social media sites to bully their peers.