Common Sense Privacy Program

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Privacy Evaluation for Class123

Last updated
Applications and services with a Warning rating do not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices. Applications and services with a Warning rating have issues narrowly focused around data use related to creating profiles that are not associated with any educational purpose, selling data, and/or using data to target advertisements.

35%

Warning

Learn how we rate

Overview

Class 123 provides a free classroom management tool with various tools for students and teachers. Class 123's terms do not disclose whether social interactions between students or adults are permitted, or whether a student's information is visible to other classmates or the public. Class123's terms state they collect personally identifiable information from students, teachers, and parents. Class123's terms state they minimize the amount of personal information they collect from a user at the time of registration. In addition, the terms state Class123 limits the number of employees that handle personal information, and conducts training for its employees to enforce the implementation and compliance of its privacy policy. Lastly, Class123's terms state they provide a student, parent, and teacher account where information about a student or child under 13 is entered into the service by the parent or teacher with a class participation code.

Class123 can be accessed through its website. Teacher Class123 is available for download at the iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store. Student Class123 is available for download at the iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store. Parent Class123 is available for download at the iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store.

The Privacy Policy and Terms of Use accessed for this evaluation can be found on Class123’s website. However, the Privacy Policy is not included at any of the iOS App Store download locations. The Google Play Store contain a link to http://bravepops.com/privacy but this URL redirects to https://class123.ac which does not contain the privacy policy. This evaluation only considers policies that have been made publicly available prior to an individual using the application or service.

Safety

Class123's terms do not disclose whether social interactions between students or adults are permitted, or whether a student's information is visible to other classmates or the public.

Privacy

The terms of Class123 state they collect personally identifiable information from students, teachers, and parents. Class123's terms state they minimize the amount of personal information they collect from a user at the time of registration, and do not disclose a user’s personal information to a third party, or for use without a user’s prior consent. The terms of Class123 specify how personally identifiable information is accessed, modified, retained, and deleted, but not how information is handled in the event of a bankruptcy, merger, or acquisition. Class123 has mobile apps for parents in the Google Play store and iOS store, but neither of these apps contain a working link to a privacy policy; see https://vimeo.com/185029983 for details.

Security

The terms of Class123 state they limit the number of employees that handle personal information, and conduct training for its employees to enforce the implementation and compliance of its privacy policy. In addition, the terms state a user’s passwords are encrypted, and the user is the only individual authorized to check, revise, or delete their personal information. Class123's terms do not disclose how information is handled in transit or in storage, although a visual inspection indicates that logins require encryption.

Compliance

The terms of Class123 state they provide a student, parent, and teacher account where information about a student or child under 13 is entered into the service by the parent or teacher with a class participation code. In addition, the terms state parents or guardians are provided access to correct the personal information of their own children under 13 years of age through the service with an account code. The terms specify a parent account code is the combination of numbers that are randomly generated to identify individual students and to protect their privacy. However, Class123's terms do not provide details about how a parent or teacher should obtain verifiable parental consent to collect a student's information.

Rating

This product received a Warning rating based on the following details:
  • Unclear whether data are sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether data are shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.
  • Behavioral or targeted advertising is displayed.
  • Unclear whether this product allows data collection by third-party advertising or tracking services.
  • Unclear whether this product uses data to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.
Data Collection
SCORE: 30%

What data does it collect?

  • Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected.
  • The categories of collected personally identifiable information are indicated.
  • Unclear whether the collection or use of data is limited to product requirements.
  • Unclear whether this product collects geolocation data.
  • Unclear whether this product collects biometric or health data.
  • Behavioral data are collected.
  • Unclear whether this product collects sensitive data.
  • Non-personally identifiable information is collected.
  • Unclear whether this product treats combined information as personally identifiable information (PII).
  • Personal information from children under 13 years of age is collected online.
Data Sharing
SCORE: 30%

What data does it share?

  • Collected information is shared with third parties.
  • Unclear whether the categories of information shared with third parties are indicated.
  • The purpose for sharing a user's personal information with third parties is indicated.
  • Unclear whether use of information is limited to the purpose for which it was collected.
  • Unclear whether data are shared for analytics.
  • Unclear whether data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Unclear whether data are shared with third-party service providers.
  • The roles of third-party service providers are indicated.
  • Unclear whether this product supports social or federated login.
  • Unclear whether contractual limits are placed on third-party data use.
Data Security
SCORE: 35%

How does it secure data?

  • A user's identity is verified with additional personal information.
  • Account creation is required.
  • Unclear whether parental controls or managed accounts are available.
  • Unclear whether two-factor account protection is available.
  • Unclear whether third-party contractual security protections are required.
  • Industry best practices are used to protect data.
  • Employee or physical access to user information is limited.
  • Unclear whether this product encrypts all data in transit.
  • Unclear whether this product encrypts all data at rest.
  • Unclear whether this product provides notice in the event of a data breach.
Data Rights
SCORE: 45%

What rights do I have to the data?

  • Unclear whether opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.
  • Unclear whether users can control their information through privacy settings.
  • Users can create or upload content.
  • Users retain ownership of their data.
  • Processes to access and review user data are available.
  • Processes to modify inaccurate data are available.
  • A data-retention policy is available.
  • Unclear whether the school, parents, or students can delete data.
  • Unclear whether a user can delete all their data.
  • Unclear whether this product provides users the ability to download their data.
Data Sold
SCORE: 0%

Is the data sold?

  • Unclear whether data are sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether users can opt out from the disclosure or sale of their data to a third party.
  • Unclear whether user information can be transferred to a third party.
  • Unclear whether users are notified if their information is transferred to a third party.
  • Unclear whether user information can be deleted prior to its transfer to a third party.
  • Unclear whether third-party transfers are contractually required to use the same privacy practices.
  • Unclear whether user information is shared in an anonymous or deidentified format.
  • Unclear whether the vendor describes their deidentification process of user information.
  • Unclear whether data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Unclear whether contractual limits prohibit third parties from reidentifying deidentified information.
Data Safety
SCORE: 0%

How safe is this product?

  • Unclear whether this product supports interactions between trusted users and/or students.
  • Unclear whether users can interact with untrusted users, including strangers and/or adults.
  • Unclear whether profile information is shared for social interactions.
  • Unclear whether this product displays personal information publicly.
  • Unclear whether this product allows users to control how their data are displayed.
  • Unclear whether user-created content is reviewed, screened, or monitored by the vendor.
  • Unclear whether user-created content is filtered for personal information before being made publicly visible.
  • Unclear whether social interactions between users are moderated.
  • Unclear whether social interactions of users are logged.
  • Unclear whether users can report abuse or cyberbullying.
Ads & Tracking
SCORE: 30%

Are there advertisements or tracking?

  • Unclear whether data are shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.
  • Traditional or contextual advertisements are displayed.
  • Behavioral or targeted advertising is displayed.
  • Unclear whether this product allows data collection by third-party advertising or tracking services.
  • Unclear whether this product uses data to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.
  • The vendor can send marketing messages.
  • The vendor does provide promotional sweepstakes, contests, or surveys.
  • Unclear whether this product provides users the ability to opt-out of traditional, contextual, or behavioral advertising.
  • Users can opt out or unsubscribe from marketing communications.
Parental Consent
SCORE: 50%

Can I provide parental consent?

  • Intended for children under 13.
  • Intended for parents or guardians.
  • Vendor does have actual knowledge that personal information from users under 13 years of age is collected.
  • Children's privacy is applicable.
  • Unclear whether this product indicates COPPA parental consent exceptions.
  • Parental consent is required.
  • Unclear whether this product limits parental consent with respect to third parties.
  • Unclear whether this product allows parents to withdraw consent for the further collection of their child's information.
  • Unclear whether this product deletes children's personal information if collected without parental consent.
  • Unclear whether this product provides parental consent notice and method for submission.
School Purpose
SCORE: 30%

Is the product intended for school?

  • Intended for students.
  • Unclear whether personal information or education records are collected from preK-12 students.
  • Intended for teachers.
  • Product is primarily used by, designed for, and marketed toward students in grades preK–12.
  • Unclear whether the product creates education records.
  • Unclear whether this product provides notification of a contract or additional rights.
  • Unclear whether this product designates the vendor as a school official.
  • Unclear whether this product transfers parental consent obligations to the school or district.
  • Unclear whether the vendor indicates FERPA parental consent exceptions.
  • Unclear whether this product discloses directory information.

Common Sense Standard Privacy Report (SPR)

The standard privacy report (SPR) displays all the privacy practices from a product's policies in a single, easy-to-read outline. The report shows a green check mark for better privacy practices and an orange alert for risky or unclear practices. This alert indicates that more time should be focused on these particular details prior to use.

Learn more about the SPR Read the report

About Privacy Evaluations

The privacy evaluations have been designed with the help and support of a consortium of schools and districts across the United States. These evaluations are designed to help educators make informed decisions about the potential privacy implications of educational technology used to support teaching and learning.

Our core evaluation criteria will always be freely available. People are encouraged to read the questions we use and our information security primer. Vendors are encouraged to use our questions and the information security primer to self-evaluate. You can also learn more about our evaluation process. Please be in touch with any questions or feedback.