A 2018 lawsuit challenged the College Board’s Student Search Service, alleging deceptive data collection practices and unfair impact on students. While dismissed in July 2023, concerns about student privacy and data use remain.
Detailed Overview:
- Allegations: Students and parents claimed the College Board:
- Misled participants about data usage and selling to third parties.
- Exerted pressure to participate in the Student Search Service.
- Collected and sold sensitive personal information like names, grades, and test scores.
- Impact Concerns: The lawsuit argued these practices caused:
- Privacy violations due to data sales and potential misuse.
- Educational inequity through targeted marketing disadvantaging low-income/minority students.
- Legal Status: The case was dismissed in July 2023 due to procedural reasons, not addressing the core allegations.
- Additional Information:
- The College Board maintains the service helps students connect with colleges and denies wrongdoing.
- Similar privacy concerns led to a $4.3 million FTC fine for College Board in 2019.
- The case was brought by the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
| Complete Date | Case | Citation | Court | Short Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2018 | Daniel Domenech et al. v. The College Board | N.D. Cal., No. 18-cv-05571 | United States District Court for the Northern District of California | Class action lawsuit alleged College Board’s Student Search Service violated student privacy through deceptive practices and unfair data collection. |
| July 12, 2023 | Daniel Domenech et al. v. The College Board | N.D. Cal., No. 18-cv-05571 | United States District Court for the Northern District of California | Case dismissed due to procedural reasons, not addressing the core allegations. |
Disclaimer: This information is based on publicly available sources and is not intended as legal advice. Please consult with an attorney for legal matters.
