.. School District Accused of Spying on Students via Home Webcams

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Today I am stunned!

This is all over the internet & the blogosphere today.  Representative samples are  at law. com, USAToday, ArsTechnica, eWeek.com, CNet News, and AZCentral.com (The Arizona Republic).
According to a Federal class action lawsuit, Robbins v. Lower Merion School District, school district administrators and teachers have been spying on students -- in various rooms in the students homes -- without either the knowledge or permission of the students or their parents, using webcams on laptop computers supplied to the students by the schools.  The school authorities are alleged to have remotely activated the webcams over the internet.
In Robbins, the Plaintiffs argue that this spying violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Stored Communications Act, as well as violations of the Fourth Amendment, federal civil rights laws and Pennsylvania's wiretap statute.  
According to the lawsuit, "Many of the images captured and intercepted may consist of images of minors and their parents or friends in compromising or embarrassing positions, including, but not limited to, in various stages of dress or undress."
It seems to me that, if these school officials saw and/or recorded any sexual activities of any sort,  they may also be in violation of relevant child pornography statutes.

We haven't yet heard from the Defendant school officials.

UPDATE 1.  Dr. Christopher McGinley, Superintendent of Lower Merion School District, wrote here, "This feature has only been used for the limited purpose of locating a lost, stolen or missing laptop."

So, since the district has officially narrowed it down, which is it:  Did the school believe student Blake Robbins lost the laptop; did the school believe student Blake Robbins stole the laptop; or, did the school believe student Blake Robbins misplaced the laptop?

Inquiring minds want to know.
UPDATE 2.  The Associated Press (AP) reports here that the FBI is now investigating this case. 
UPDATE 3.  These videos from CBS & NBC News.

UPDATE 4.   Stryde Hax blog  reports here on the technical aspects of this situation.

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