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THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2018 $2.00 WEEKLY IN PRINT. MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME. TheIFP.ca While looking over the shoulder of his 11-year-old daughter, one Bur- lington father noticed that some- thing was not right. His daughter was on the com- puter at home, signed in on You- Tube with a username containing her first and last name, accessed us- ing a profile created on her behalf by the Halton District School Board (HDSB). "I noticed my children and their classmates were able to post com- ments on videos using their user- names containing personal and identifiable information," he said. The parent, who spoke to the In- dependent on the promise of ano- nymity, said that he soon learned the YouTube application, along with a host of others, was connected to his daughter's G Suite for Educa- tion account - a Google suite of ap- plications used by school boards across Ontario. G Suite, which has been vetted by the Ministry of Education, aims to provide online learning tools for students growing up in a digital world. In the HDSB, the suite is con- nected to each student's school pro- file, which includes the student's first and last name, grade, school lo- cation and email - information that is then provided directly to Google. "We don't like that. It's kind of a punch to the gut," the father said, adding that he was never asked to consent to his children's use of this suite or its services, or the disclo- sure of their personal information online. Toronto cyber lawyer Imran Ah- mad says it is important for schools to offer cyber hygiene training to protect students from online preda- tors and cyberbullies they could en- counter through use of certain ap- plications, such as the additional ones offered through G Suite. "At (a young) age, I don't think they can discern and appreciate what the impact of putting their personal information online would be," he said. "So take the example of a YouTube account. Viewing a vid- eo is one thing, but recording your- See HDSB, page 18 PARENT SOUNDS THE ALARM ON STUDENTS' ONLINE PRIVACY THROUGH USE OF ONLINE APPS VERONICA APPIA vappia@metroland.com "When you give your personal information or you sign up for an account it's premised on the user giving their consent and so the question then is, is a child who is under the age of the majority able to give informed consent," cyber lawyer Imran Ahmad said. iStock photo • your window & door professionals • 11 Mountainview Rd., N. Georgetown, ON L7G 4T3 905.873.0236 www.buy-wise.ca info@buy-wise.ca • awarded readers choice 27 times • Visit our showroom DISPOSAL A FAmILy TrADITIOn SInce 1953! "Scrap orWaste" S.O.W 1-877-688-6406 One of a kind same day service Bin Rentals for waste, wood, scrap and landscape www.sandersondisposal.ca 519-833-2614 geoff MALTBY VoTe✔ Councillor ward 2 S O LD krausemorris.ca 905.877.5211 23 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD S., GEORGETOWN Re/Max Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage. Independently Owned and Operated RE-ELECT Kentner "Supported by and paid for by Dave Kentner, candidate for Ward 3" WARD 3 1195 Steeles Ave East, Milton ON L9T2X8 289-627-1800 or 1-866-620-3248 www.achillesmazda.ca • info@achillesmazda.ca GT model shown 2018 cx-5 gs awd FINANCE FROM$99 † 3.35%at weekly for 84 months, with $1,535 down. All-in from $33,644. Excludes HST. Apr 0%PURCHASEFINANCING▼ ON SELECT NEWMODELS + $750WINTER TIRECREDIT▲ UP TO A Get more community news now