Senate hearing slated on Pa. webcam spying issue

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - March 16, 2010 Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., said Tuesday that the sucommittee on crime and drugs that he chairs will hold a special hearing March 29 on the use of remote tracking software to take pictures using the built-in cameras of the computers issued to students.

Specter said federal legislation may be needed to deal with the technology.

The family of a 15-year-old student is seeking class action status for a lawsuit accusing the Lower Merion School District of photographing him in his bedroom. The district has said it activated the cameras only to locate missing laptops.

The FBI is investigating whether the school district violated wiretap and computer use laws.

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