Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. made clear Tuesday that districts should not use tutor.com due to its ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Primavera Capital, with its headquarters located in China, is the owner of tutor.com.
In a letter sent to school district superintendents, college presidents, and charter schools, he advised them to be aware of using the program tutor.com.
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“Ties to foreign countries of concern may compromise student data privacy, which we will never allow in Florida schools. In fact, Primavera Capital was recently investigated by the Florida Department of Education and was found to be headquartered in China. The State Board of Education has recently adopted rules to strengthen and protect the privacy of student data to keep it out of the hands of bad actors,” said Diaz.
“Let me be clear, school districts, charter schools, and state colleges should not contract with companies
that have ties to foreign countries of concern and risk comprising student data. School districts, charter
schools and state colleges must take measures to ensure that all of their contracts comply with Florida law and State Board of Education rule in order to protect students’ data. Institutions must take the necessary steps to protect their students from nefarious foreign actors such as the Chinese Communist Party,” said Diaz in the letter.
The Rise of Tutor.com
Tutor.com is a personal tutor site that aims to promote equity, opportunity, and achievement for all learners. Established in 2000, the platform provides 24/7 on-demand tutoring and homework help in more than 250 subjects. It has formed partnerships with colleges, universities, K–12 schools, public libraries, and even the U.S. military to offer its services to a wide range of learners.
However, beneath the surface, Tutor.com’s ownership raises concerns. The company is controlled by Primavera Holdings Limited, a firm owned by Chinese nationals with a principal place of business in Hong Kong, China. This association with Chinese ownership has sparked controversy and led to questions about the security of student data and the potential influence of the Chinese government.
The Concerns Raised by Parents Defending Education
Parents Defending Education (PDE), a grassroots organization working to protect American schools from harmful agendas, has been at the forefront of raising concerns about Tutor.com. According to PDE, at least 100 school districts across the nation give students access to Tutor.com, allowing the Chinese-owned company to collect sensitive data about American students.
PDE’s president and founder, Nicole Neily, stresses the need for greater control over student data and highlights the cavalier treatment of student information by school districts. Neily argues that parents deserve more say in who collects and accesses their children’s data, as many districts seem oblivious to the potential risks associated with foreign-owned companies having access to sensitive information.
The Chinese Ownership Question: Implications for Data Security
One of the primary concerns surrounding Tutor.com’s Chinese ownership is the potential risk to student data security. Like other Chinese-owned companies, Tutor.com may be subject to Chinese national security laws, which require tech companies to release confidential business and customer data to the Chinese government upon request.
The fact that Primavera Holdings Limited, the parent company of Tutor.com, is associated with TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, further raises concerns. TikTok has faced scrutiny over its data privacy practices and its potential ties to the Chinese government. The worry is that by using Tutor.com, American students’ data could be exposed to the Chinese Communist Party, posing a risk to national security.
Tutor.com’s Response: Data Protection Measures
Tutor.com has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and emphasized its commitment to data protection. The company states that it abides by U.S. state and federal laws and that it cannot be compelled to release confidential data to China or any other foreign nation. According to Tutor.com, all student data is housed in the United States, and the company has implemented stringent safeguards to protect customer and student data.
Tutor.com voluntarily underwent a federal review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to ensure compliance with data protection measures. The company claims to have comprehensive data protection practices, including a binding legal commitment to the U.S. government that prevents Primavera Holdings Limited from accessing any personal data or Tutor.com’s IT systems.
The company further highlights its compliance with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171, which provides cybersecurity guidelines and requirements for safeguarding sensitive information. Tutor.com asserts that it has designated data security officers and independent directors to ensure the appropriate safeguarding of personal data.
The Need for Greater Transparency and Accountability
While Tutor.com maintains that it operates within legal boundaries and prioritizes data protection, the controversy surrounding its Chinese ownership persists. Critics argue that the issue goes beyond individual company policies and calls for broader transparency and accountability in the education sector.
Parents, educators, and policymakers alike need assurance that student data is secure and that foreign-owned companies do not compromise national security. Stricter regulations and oversight mechanisms may be necessary to address these concerns and safeguard the educational privacy of American students.
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