Companies that collect personal information of online consumers must remain vigilant and responsible in safeguarding that data.
Through its partnerships with schools across the world that use the Spirit System, Interactive Health Technologies collects personal information on students. Understanding the importance of securely storing the data, IHT takes several key steps to safeguard the data including but not limited to:
- Store data on a secure, U.S.-based servers
- Collect and store data for school purposes only
- Sign the Student Privacy Pledge, strengthening its commitment to data protection
For schools who use the Spirit System, which includes the IHT Zone for IHT Spirit wrist heart rate monitors, IHT collects heart rate data, analyzes it and delivers immediate feedback to students about their just-completed P.E. workout. The data personalizes the workout for each student and delivers a report specific to each student’s performance via email immediately following the session. The system sends the report only to the student, the parents (if they opt to receive the report) and the teacher.
Identifiable student data remains securely stored in IHT’s servers as long as the student remains enrolled at the participating school. In the event the student opts out of the school’s P.E. data collection program or the school stops using the system, data is returned to the school and purged from the server.
In 2016, IHT signed the Student Privacy Pledge, further committing to the responsible use and protection of student data. The pledge requires that signatories “carry out responsible stewardship and appropriate use of student personal information according to the commitments below and in adherence to all laws applicable to us as school service providers.”
The pledge includes 12 legally binding commitments that include:
- Collecting, storing and using data only for authorized educational purposes;
- Support access to and correction of information by student and authorized parent;
- Not selling personal information;
- Not use or disclose student information for advertising purposes.
As of June, the Student Privacy Pledge includes 346 signatories. IHT was the first, and remains the only, wearable education technology company to sign the pledge. Other signatories include Apple, AT&T, ClassDojo, Google For Education and Microsoft.
“Protecting the personal data of schools and their students has always been an important aspect of IHT’s mission to empower students through data,” said IHT founder and CEO Ben Bentzin upon the signing. “Taking the Student Privacy Pledge symbolizes IHT’s commitment to protecting our customers and their students.”
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