A Battle Against Unfair Practices: The Legal Challenge to the College Board’s PSAT Data Collection
In recent years, the College Board, the non-profit organization that administers the SAT and PSAT, has faced mounting criticism for its data collection practices. At the heart of the controversy is the Student Search Service, a program that collects and sells personal information from students who take the PSAT, SAT, or Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
In 2018, a group of students and parents filed a class action lawsuit against the College Board, alleging that the organization had violated their privacy rights by collecting and selling their personal information without their consent. The lawsuit also claims that the College Board’s data collection practices are unfair and deceptive.
The Allegations: Unfair and Deceptive Data Collection Practices
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege that the College Board has engaged in a number of unfair and deceptive practices in order to collect student data. These practices include:
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Misleading students about the purpose of the Student Search Service: The College Board’s website states that the Student Search Service is a “free service” that “helps students find colleges that are a good fit for them.” However, the lawsuit alleges that the College Board does not adequately disclose that the information collected through the Student Search Service is sold to colleges and other third parties.
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Pressuring students to participate in the Student Search Service: The lawsuit alleges that the College Board pressures students to participate in the Student Search Service by making it difficult to opt out of the program. For example, the lawsuit alleges that the College Board’s website is designed to make it difficult for students to find the opt-out option.
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Collecting and selling sensitive personal information: The lawsuit alleges that the College Board collects and sells a wide range of sensitive personal information from students, including their names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, test scores, and high school grades.
The Impact: Privacy Concerns and Educational Equity
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that the College Board’s data collection practices have a number of negative consequences for students. These consequences include:
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Privacy concerns: Students have a right to privacy, and the College Board’s data collection practices have raised concerns that this right is being violated. The sale of student data to colleges and other third parties raises concerns about how this data will be used and whether it will be protected.
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Educational equity: The lawsuit alleges that the College Board’s data collection practices disadvantage students from low-income and minority communities. These students are more likely to take the PSAT and SAT, and their data is therefore more likely to be collected and sold. This data can then be used to target these students with marketing and recruitment materials, which can give them an unfair advantage in the college admissions process.
The Legal Challenge: Seeking Justice and Protecting Student Privacy
The class action lawsuit against the College Board is ongoing. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to stop the College Board from collecting and selling student data, as well as damages for the harm that they have suffered. The outcome of the lawsuit could have a significant impact on the College Board’s data collection practices and the privacy of students who take the PSAT, SAT, and AP exams.
Conclusion
The College Board’s data collection practices have raised serious concerns about student privacy and educational equity. The class action lawsuit against the College Board is an important step in addressing these concerns and protecting the rights of students.
