What are the privacy implications of using AR/VR in educational settings?

By Aman Priyanshu

The use of AR/VR in educational settings presents several privacy implications that need to be carefully considered. One of the primary concerns is the collection and storage of personal data. AR/VR technologies often require the use of cameras and sensors to track users’ movements and interactions, which can lead to the inadvertent collection of sensitive information. Additionally, the use of these technologies may involve the creation of user profiles and behavioral data, which could potentially be exploited or misused. There is also the risk of unauthorized access to the data, as well as the potential for data breaches or leaks, which could compromise the privacy of students and educators. Furthermore, the use of AR/VR in educational settings raises questions about consent and parental involvement, particularly when it comes to the collection and use of data from minors.

To put it simply, imagine AR/VR in educational settings as a virtual classroom equipped with cameras and sensors that track everything students and teachers do. This virtual environment collects data on how students interact with the content, their movements, and even their facial expressions. However, this data collection raises concerns about who has access to this information and how it is being used. It’s like having a virtual assistant in the classroom that observes and records everything, but there’s uncertainty about who is ultimately in control of that information and whether it’s being handled responsibly.

Please note that the provided answer is a brief overview; for a comprehensive exploration of privacy, privacy-enhancing technologies, and privacy engineering, as well as the innovative contributions from our students at Carnegie Mellon’s Privacy Engineering program, we highly encourage you to delve into our in-depth articles available through our homepage at https://privacy-engineering-cmu.github.io/.

Author: My name is Aman Priyanshu, you can check out my website for more details or check out my other socials: LinkedIn and Twitter

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