AI laws governing children and schools vary from state to state, creating a patchwork of different requirements for U.S. ed-tech vendors to navigate regarding how their products collect, use and protect student data. For these vendors, Common Sense Privacy, a for-profit affiliate of the nonprofit Common Sense Media, recently created a framework to help assess their privacy practices against existing and emerging AI legislation.
According to a recent news release, the assessment tool launched Oct. 2 and is ready to use within Common Sense Privacy’s platform. It’s embedded in the platform’s AI-powered tool, called Wizard, and users do not have to learn anything new to use it.
“Companies answer only what’s relevant to their products,” the release said.
The first iteration of the assessment focuses on transparency, accountability and protections for young users, covering issues such as AI model training, automated decision-making and minors’ interactions with chatbots. The release said the assessment will be updated as AI technology, regulations and industry standards evolve.
“AI should be treated like any other technology a company integrates with. That means knowing what data goes to a model provider, whether it’s used for training, and what protections are in place,” Common Sense Privacy CTO Gary Moore said in a public statement. “We’re giving companies that clarity now, as these laws take effect.”
The news release said Common Sense Privacy examined existing and proposed AI legislation, in addition to working with school districts and ed-tech companies to gauge their respective needs and expectations, which the release noted change in line with AI development itself.
Greater clarity around expectations and standards for vendors could also provide more transparency for all those impacted by ed-tech tools, including students, educators, district staff and families. The assessment is thus intended to create a common set of criteria for companies to report how their AI products handle data and what privacy protections they have in place, the release said.
The assessment builds upon ongoing efforts by Common Sense Media and its affiliates to address the risks emerging technologies can pose to young people. Alongside digital well-being resources for students launched by Common Sense Education in 2023, the organization has scrutinized products being introduced in schools. It previously worked on California ballot initiatives regarding children and AI chatbots, raised privacy concerns about virtual reality tools, and more recently rated Google’s AI-powered search tools “unacceptable” for students, citing concerns about inaccurate information, potentially unsafe responses and the tools’ ability to complete homework questions.
“We built this so parents, educators and consumers can better understand how AI products protect their privacy, and so companies have a clear path to strengthen their practices,” Common Sense Privacy CEO Daphne Li said in a public statement. “Privacy and safety shouldn’t be something people have to take on faith.”
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