Lisa Walker on YouTube access and lack of safeguards on DOE devices
Walker, a parent of two DOE device users, contradicts DOE testimony that YouTube is not on devices, saying her children have full internet and YouTube access. She describes AI-powered Amira collecting children's voices without parental consent and calls for transparency about what technology children interact with at school.
Hi, my name is Lisa Walker and I'm a mom.
So earlier the first deputy
Chancellor said that YouTube is not on DOE devices.
YouTube is on DOE devices.
Both my seventh grader and first grader have DOE-issued devices.
And as far as I understand, according to New York State law, I thought YouTube is not supposed to be on these devices.
But at my school, every child has a device sent home with them, as young as four years old on weekends.
I can see on these DOE devices that my children have full access to the internet, YouTube, and no real safeguards.
Parents can opt out of the device being sent home, but it's still there waiting for them at school.
The DOE says, well, at least there's software installed so they can't watch porn.
Well, that's just not good enough.
The DOE has not fulfilled their promise to keep kids safe and to protect kids'privacy.
We use two apps at our school against our consent.
We use two apps at our school.
One is AI-powered Amira, a cute avatar that talks to children collecting their voices.
Many parents don't even know their kids are using ed tech apps at school or using AI and being recorded.
Instead of putting the onus on parents to ask questions, parents deserve transparency and should be told what technology their kids are interacting with at school.
And we should also be asked for our consent.
Our kids deserve an education focused on real social connection to teachers and students, not AI.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.