Letter: Sharing student data's dangerous
Students listen to a lecture on May 1, 2013. Credit: Heather Walsh
State Education Commissioner John B. King Jr. continues to mislead parents by spouting useless rhetoric on laws against the illegal use or sale of students' records once transferred into the new database ["Trying to block shift of student records," News, Nov. 14].
No law has ever prevented a crime by words alone. Who will have access to this database? Anyone who says he or she needs it for "public safety." Hence, that could mean access by the National Security Agency, the CIA, the FBI, state and local governments and more. Furthermore, this database could be hacked! Databases all over the world are hacked for criminal purposes and espionage. And once that data is out there, it is for sale to the highest bidder!
Whether now or 30 years from now, that data could be used to determine if our children can be hired, if they can own firearms, with whom they associated and more. The threat is real. It is here now! Any parent who wants to ensure the safety of a child from further government control and spying must oppose and defeat this plan.
Larry Cowden, South Hempstead