Day 12: Privacy Concerns and Protections

Learning Objectives

• IOC-1.J: Explain how the collection of data affects privacy.

Essential Questions

• What privacy concerns arise from widespread data collection?
• How can individuals and organizations protect privacy?
• What laws and technologies exist to enhance privacy?

Materials Needed

• Presentation slides on privacy laws and technologies
• Privacy breach case study handouts
• Privacy-enhancing technology guides
• Personal data protection plan template
• Exit ticket templates

Vocabulary

• Data protection
• Privacy by design
• Encryption
• Anonymization
• De-identification
• Data minimization
• Informed consent
• Privacy policy
• Data breach
• Privacy regulations

Procedure (50 minutes)

Opening (8 minutes)

1. Review and Connection (3 minutes)

   • Review data collection practices from previous lesson
   • Connect to today's focus on privacy concerns and protections

2. Warm-up Activity (5 minutes)

   • Present a scenario: "Your entire digital history becomes public tomorrow"
   • Ask students to write down their top three privacy concerns
   • Create a class list of privacy concerns
   • Introduce the importance of privacy protections

Main Activities (32 minutes)

3. Exploration: Privacy Laws and Regulations (10 minutes)

   • Introduce major privacy laws and regulations:
     • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
     • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
     • Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
     • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
     • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
     • Other relevant national and state regulations
   • Explain key principles in privacy regulations:
     • Transparency and notice
     • Purpose limitation
     • Data minimization
     • Accuracy
     • Storage limitation
     • Integrity and confidentiality
     • Accountability
   • Discuss user rights under privacy laws:
     • Right to access
     • Right to correction
     • Right to deletion
     • Right to opt out
     • Right to data portability
   • Compare privacy approaches across different jurisdictions

4. Discussion: Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (12 minutes)

   • Explain technologies that help protect privacy:
     • Encryption (end-to-end, at rest, in transit)
     • Anonymization and pseudonymization
     • VPNs and proxy servers
     • Tor and anonymous browsing
     • Ad and tracker blockers
     • Private browsing modes
     • Two-factor authentication
     • Password managers
   • Demonstrate how some privacy tools work
   • Discuss the strengths and limitations of each approach
   • Explain privacy by design principles:
     • Proactive not reactive
     • Privacy as the default setting
     • Privacy embedded into design
     • Full functionality with privacy
     • End-to-end security
     • Visibility and transparency
     • User-centered design

5. Case Studies: Privacy Breaches and Consequences (10 minutes)

   • Present 2-3 significant privacy breach cases
   • For each case, analyze:
     • What data was compromised
     • How the breach occurred
     • Impact on individuals and organizations
     • Response and remediation
     • Lessons learned
   • Discuss the real-world consequences of privacy failures
   • Connect to broader issues of trust and accountability
   • Consider how breaches might have been prevented

Closing (10 minutes)

6. Debate: Privacy vs. Convenience Trade-offs (7 minutes)

   • Divide class into two groups
   • One group argues for prioritizing privacy
   • One group argues for prioritizing convenience/functionality
   • Each group presents their strongest arguments
   • Discuss how to find an appropriate balance
   • Consider how context affects these trade-offs
   • Reflect on personal preferences and choices

7. Exit Ticket: Personal Data Protection Plan (3 minutes)

   • Students begin developing a personal data protection plan
   • Plan should include:
     • Privacy settings to review and adjust
     • Tools to consider using
     • Habits to develop or change
     • How to make informed decisions about data sharing
   • Students will complete the plan as homework
   • Preview that next class will focus on computing innovations and problem-solving

Assessment

• Formative: Quality of participation in privacy discussions and debates
• Exit Ticket: Practicality and comprehensiveness of personal data protection plan

Differentiation

For Advanced Students

• Ask them to analyze technical aspects of privacy-enhancing technologies
• Have them compare privacy regulations in detail
• Challenge them to develop privacy recommendations for an organization

For Struggling Students

• Focus on basic privacy protection strategies
• Provide a structured template for the personal data protection plan
• Use more concrete examples and step-by-step guides

Homework/Extension

• Complete the personal data protection plan
• Implement at least three privacy-enhancing changes on personal devices
• Research an organization's response to a privacy breach

Teacher Notes

• Balance raising awareness with avoiding unnecessary anxiety
• Use current examples that students will recognize
• Make connections to students' experiences as technology users
• Consider privacy implications of any classroom technology being used
• Emphasize that privacy is about control, not necessarily secrecy