QUESTION

Can a school search your FaceBook account?

Asked on Jun 07th, 2012 on Education Law - New Jersey
More details to this question:
I know that schools have the mirror software, where they can visually look at what I''m doing on my screen. They can also take over my screen, and do as they please. If I log on to FaceBook at said school and they go through things that I did not access, meaning they went into my messages or my pictures, etc, is this an invasion of privacy?
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1 ANSWER

Elder Law Attorney serving Toms River, NJ
Partner at Diana L. Anderson
2 Awards
Unfortunately I think the answer to this is going to have to be "it depends".  A lot of law pertaining to privacy and Facebook is just emerging, different situations are being addressed by the courts in different states, and different results are being achieved.  If the computer is a "school" computer, and you are accessing the Internet via the school, and the computer is supposed to be used for school work, then I think an argument could be made that the computer and its contents are school property.  This happen often in businesses.  If my computer is owned by my company, and I am accessing the Internet via the company Internet provider, and I am only supposed to be using the Internet for work related business, then the contents of my computer belongs to the company, and there could be a very strong argument that a Facebook page created using that computer, and accessed on that computer, belongs to the company.  If however, you are using your own computer, and have your own internet provider, in a dorm room for example, I do not think the same could be applied.  
Answered on Jun 08th, 2012 at 10:08 AM

Diana L. Anderson, Certified Elder Law Attorney This response is not legal advice and does not establish any form of attorney/client relationship

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