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Privacy Evaluation for Big History Project

Last updated

Overview

Big History Project was formed to create and offer free educational content, including a year-long high school social studies course, to teachers and their students in an online classroom format, and to adult learners through the public site. The policy affirms student users are not able to interact with other users except their assigned teacher. The policy states student user accounts are not visible to other users or to the public. The policy specifies Big History Project collects personal information such as name, email address, profile information, account information from third parties integrated with the site, IP address, and usage information. Furthermore, the policy confirms data may be shared with service providers and with third party advertising services, although targeted ads are not served within the site. The policy specifies student users may not connect their accounts to social media sites; however, the policy does state teachers and adult users may register their accounts using social media accounts.

The policy states Big History Project does not sell or rent personal information to third parties. The policy states the publicly accessible portion of the site does not require an account. However, teachers and students who are using the site as part of their coursework, must register for an account. The policy states student accounts are linked to their teacher’s account, who facilitates their access and use of the site. In addition, the policy is not clear if children under 13 are intended to use this product, beacause the policy states users under 13 are not allowed to create an account and that teachers may facilitate accounts for children under 13. The policy also confirms the teacher assumes responsibility for consenting on the student's behalf for the collection of information.

Big History Project can be accessed through its website. The Privacy Policy and Terms of Use used for this evaluation can be found on Big History Project’s website. This evaluation only considers policies that have been made publicly available prior to an individual using the application or service.

Safety

The policy says that while student users are not able to interact with others on the site other than their teachers, teacher accounts are able to interact with others and post on community forums.

Privacy

The policy does not specify that the company limits the collection of information; however the policy does state that Big History Project limits the collection of information for targeted advertising purposes in regards to student users. The policy states Big History Project uses third party analytics providers who may collect information from users and their usage of the site. The policy states Big History Project may disclose information for operation, management, improvement, research and analysis purposes. In addition, the site uses third party advertising services to serve targeted ads to teachers on other sites. The policy specifies that information shared with third parties will be governed by this privacy policy and must be used only to operate or improve the services. The policy confirms personal data may be transferred in the event of a company transfer or merger, without notice to the user or consent. However, the policy does confirm that third parties who receive personal information from a transfer or merger are contractually required to provide the same level of privacy compliance.

Security

The policy states the service may, but is not required to verify user identity. The policy does not indicate that multi-factor authentication is used to protect user accounts either. The policy confirms Big History Project employs data encryption for data in transit, but it is not clear if encryption is used for data in storage.

Compliance

The policy specifies that students may submit coursework to the site, but that students are not able to post, message, or otherwise interact with other users besides their teacher on the site. However, the policy states teacher profiles are viewable to the public and teachers have the ability to post on public forums. The policy states users may access, update or delete their account at any time by signing in to the site and clicking on the account access page. Users should note the policy states, Big History Project may retain user information indefinitely, or as long as legally required or allowed, except for personal information relating to student users. If a user's account is canceled, BHP may, but is not obligated to delete the personal information and may continue to use or disclose it in accordance with the policy.

Rating

This product received a Warning rating based on the following details:
  • Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is not displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
Data Collection
SCORE: 35%

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.
  • Geolocation data are collected.
  • Unclear whether this product collects biometric or health data.
  • Interactions, behaviors, or usage analytics data are collected.
  • Unclear whether this product collects sensitive data.
  • Data is automatically collected.
  • Unclear whether opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.
  • Personal information of users is collected by a third party.
Data Sharing
SCORE: 70%

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 the categories of third parties that receive data are indicated.
  • Data are shared for analytics.
  • Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Third-party services are used to support the product.
  • The roles of third-party service providers are indicated.
  • Third-party login is supported.
  • Contractual limits are placed on third-party data use.
Data Security
SCORE: 50%

How does it secure data?

  • Unclear whether a user's identity is verified with additional personal information.
  • Unclear whether this product requires account creation.
  • Managed accounts are available.
  • Unclear whether multi-factor account protection is available.
  • Unclear whether third-parties with access to information are required to provide the same security protections as the company.
  • Reasonable security practices are used to protect data.
  • Employee or physical access to user information is limited.
  • All data in transit are encrypted.
  • Unclear whether all data are stored in an encrypted format.
  • Notice is provided in the event of a data breach.
Data Rights
SCORE: 55%

What rights do I have to the data?

  • Users can create or upload content.
  • Unclear whether users retain ownership of their data.
  • Processes to access or review user data are available.
  • Processes to modify data are available for authorized users.
  • A data-retention policy is available.
  • Processes for authorized users to delete data are available.
  • Unclear whether a user's data are deleted upon account cancellation or termination.
  • Unclear whether this product deletes data when no longer necessary.
  • Methods are available to restrict who has access to data.
  • Unclear whether this product provides users the ability to download their data.
Data Sold
SCORE: 30%

Is the data sold?

  • Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether users can opt out from the disclosure or sale of their data to a third party.
  • User information can be transferred to a third party in the event of a merge, acquisition, or bankruptcy.
  • 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.
  • Third-party transfer is contractually required to use the same privacy practices.
  • Unclear whether user information that is shared is shared in an anonymous or de-identified format.
  • Unclear whether the company describes their de-identification process of user information.
  • Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Unclear whether contractual limits prohibit third parties from reidentifying or de-identified information.
Data Safety
SCORE: 25%

How safe is this product?

  • Users can interact with trusted users.
  • Users can interact with untrusted users, including strangers and/or adults.
  • Unclear whether profile information must be shared for social interactions.
  • Personal information can be not displayed publicly.
  • Unclear whether this product allows users to control how their data are displayed to others.
  • Unclear whether user-created content is reviewed, screened, or monitored by the company.
  • 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?

  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Unclear whether this product displays traditional or contextual advertisements.
  • Personalised advertising is not displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
  • Unclear whether this company can send marketing messages.
  • Unclear whether this company provides promotional sweepstakes, contests, or surveys.
  • Unclear whether this product provides users the ability to opt-out of contextual, or personalised advertising.
  • Unclear whether users can opt out or unsubscribe from marketing communications.
Parental Consent
SCORE: 30%

Can I provide parental consent?

  • Unclear whether intended for children under 13.
  • Unclear whether this product collects personal information from children under 13 years of age.
  • Intended for parents or guardians.
  • Unclear whether company has actual knowledge that personal information from users under 13 years of age is collected.
  • The company does not provide a section, heading, or separate policy for children in their policies.
  • Parental consent is required before personal information is collected or disclosed.
  • 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.
  • Children's personal information is deleted if collected without parental consent.
  • Unclear whether this product provides parental consent notice and method for submission.
School Purpose
SCORE: 50%

Is the product intended for school?

  • Intended for students.
  • 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.
  • Processes to enter education records into the product are not described.
  • Unclear whether additional rights or protections may be provided with an additional school contract.
  • Unclear whether the company is designated as a school official.
  • Parental consent obligations are transferred to the school or district.
Individual Control
SCORE: 30%

Can I control the use of my data?

  • Unclear whether users can control the use of their information through privacy settings.
  • Unclear whether use of information is limited to the purpose for which it was collected.
  • The context or purpose for which data are collected is indicated.
  • Unclear whether company may combine data with additional data from third-party sources.
  • Combined information is treated as personally identifiable information (PII).
  • Unclear whether notice is provided if the context in which data are collected changes.
  • Unclear whether consent is obtained if the practices in which data are collected change.
  • Unclear whether a grievance or remedy mechanism is available for users to file a complaint.
  • Unclear whether users can request to know what personal information has been shared with third parties.
  • Notice is provided in the event the company receives a government or legal request for a user's 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.

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.