Groups Warn of Downsides to Remote Learning

Over 100 organizations and individuals, led by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, have signed on to a letter warning about the downside of remote learning in the age of COVID-19 and beyond. As some school districts pull back on reopening in person due to spikes in the virus, privacy and other groups are warning parents and schools to "look past simplistic solutions peddled to increase EdTech profits, and find ways to limit students’ time on digital devices." Their concern is the push for remote learning will translate to EdTech companies capturing more children's data, crowd teachers out of education budgets, and subject kids to "relentless marketing efforts," all to "capture a larger portion of the $10 trillion global education market" and sell families on what they said is the false premise that EdTech is effective and budget-friendly. Signatories include 70 individuals and 36 advocacy groups including Center for Digital Democracy, the United Church of Christ, and the Massachusetts Teachers Association.