Can schools force you to unlock your phone?

Can my school look through my phone without my permission? ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY* OR WITH A SEARCH WARRANT ISSUED BY A JUDGE based on “probable cause” that your phone contains evidence of a crime (meaning that a reasonable person would believe there is evidence in your phone).

aclunc.org - Know Your Rights: Student Cell Phone Privacy | ACLU of Northern CA

What age do men want wives?

The age varies from man to man, but there are patterns that are easily identified: Most men who graduate from high school start thinking of...

Last updated Jun 13, 2021

What happens when a planet dies?

The majority of these lost planets are ejected from the system, and only on rare occasions (a few percent) do they collide with the star or another...

Last updated Jun 7, 2019

Do you really know who the “One” is? Your true Soulmate?

Promotion

Updated: August 2017

Leer en español »

Do I have the right to keep what’s on my phone private?

YES. The privacy of your phone (or tablet or laptop), as well as your accounts with services like Facebook or Snapchat, is protected both by the United States and California Constitutions and by the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA). (Penal Code §§ 1546 et seq. CalECPA went into effect on Jan. 1, 2016.)

Can my school look through my phone without my permission?

ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY* OR WITH A SEARCH WARRANT ISSUED BY A JUDGE based on “probable cause” that your phone contains evidence of a crime (meaning that a reasonable person would believe there is evidence in your phone). You have the right to keep your digital devices private, even if:

You use your phone when you are not supposed to;

You break any other school rule;

You cause a disruption by using your phone; or

Your school wants to search your phone to investigate another student's misconduct.

* CalECPA defines an emergency as a situation “involving danger of death or serious physical injury to any person [that] requires access to the electronic device information.” Penal Code § 1546.1(c)(6).

What can I do if a school official asks to look through my phone?

You can SAY NO. You can also say you aren’t sure and that you want to talk to your parents or someone else before you decide. Or that you will only agree if they tell you what parts of the phone they will look through or let you or your parents watch the search. If you do say yes, you give the school the right to look through your phone, and possibly to use what they find can be used as evidence against you or others.

Is your school following the law?

Not sure? Help the ACLU Foundation of Northern California protect

How do men view love?

Men Need Love and Affection In plain language: Men often feel most loved by the women in their lives when their partners hug them, kiss them, smile...

Last updated Jun 5, 2020

Who is enemies with Aquarius?

Pisces and Sagittarius are considered to be enemies of Aquarius because Pisces look for straight answers which Aquarius often refuses to provide....

Last updated Nov 15, 2021

Promotion

your rights by letting us know what’s happening in your school.

What if my school asks me to sign a waiver allowing the school to search my phone at any time?

You can SAY NO. Public schools cannot require you to waive your right to privacy in order to attend school. If your school tries (or has already tried) to get you to sign a waiver or otherwise “consent” to a search in advance, please let us know.

If my school has a search warrant, can it look at everything on my phone?

NO. First, only duly-sworn law enforcement officers can execute a search warrant. Second, the search can only be for evidence of the specific crime that you are suspected of breaking, and the search warrant must describe the type of information and parts of the phone that may be searched. For example, school officials cannot look at photos unless they have probable cause to believe that the photos contain evidence of a crime.

Can my school restrict when I use my phone?

YES. Your school can also confiscate your phone if you violate your school’s cell phone policy. But that does not give it the authority to conduct a search.

What can I do if my school doesn’t follow the law?

You can DEMAND THAT YOUR INFORMATION BE DELETED and prevent it from being used in any kind of disciplinary action or other proceeding If the school repeatedly violates students’ rights or otherwise causes you harm, you may have additional remedies as well. If you believe your rights have been violated, you can call our Intake Line at (415) 621-2488 or submit your complaint online, and we’ll see what we can do to help.

aclunc.org - Know Your Rights: Student Cell Phone Privacy | ACLU of Northern CA

Do girls perform better than boys in exams?

Girls typically outperform boys in humanities, languages and reading tests, while boys do better in maths. But when grades are awarded by teachers,...

Last updated Apr 21, 2018