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Google Hangouts/Meet student privacy update - FAQ Follow

Hapara Marketing
  • Updated

Can teachers see Google Meet in Hāpara Highlights?

This article explains what teachers can and cannot see in Hāpara Highlights when a student is using Google Meet.

Who this is for

Teachers | Admins

Summary

When Google Meet is the student's active browser tab, Hāpara Highlights does not display a screenshot of the Meet in Current Screens. Teachers can still see that the student is using Google Meet, but Highlights cannot access or display the student's camera or microphone.

If the student switches to another browser tab or window, Current Screens can display that active browser content as normal.

In this article:

 

Can teachers see a student's Google Meet screen?

No. When meet.google.com is the student's active browser tab, Current Screens does not display a screenshot of the Google Meet session.

This helps protect student privacy when a webcam may be active.

Instead of the student's Meet screen, teachers see a privacy message in the student tile:

Google Meet student tile showing that the screenshot is unavailable to protect student privacy

Teachers can still see that the student is using Google Meet. The Meet code or nickname may also appear in the student tile.

 

What happens if the student switches to another browser tab?

Screenshots are blocked only while Google Meet is the student's active browser tab or window.

  1. The student opens or joins a Google Meet.
  2. While Google Meet is the active tab, Current Screens displays the student privacy message instead of a screenshot.
  3. The student switches to another browser tab, such as Google Docs or another learning website.
  4. Current Screens updates to show the browser content the student is actively viewing.

This means students can keep a Google Meet open while working in another browser tab, and teachers can continue to monitor the student's active schoolwork.

 

What happens when a student uses split screen?

If a student has Google Meet open alongside another browser window, Current Screens reflects the browser window or tab the student most recently selected.

For example:

  1. The student has Google Meet open alongside a Google Doc.
  2. The student selects the Google Meet window.
  3. Current Screens displays the privacy message instead of the Meet screenshot.
  4. The student selects the Google Doc.
  5. Current Screens updates to display the Google Doc.

The example below shows how Google Meet appears in Class View while the student's Meet screen is protected:

Hāpara Highlights Class View showing a Google Meet student tile with the screen protected for student privacy

Note: Current Screens shows the tab or window the student is actively using. If students are using split screen or multiple tabs, Browser Tabs may provide a more complete view of their browser activity.

 

Can Hāpara access a student's camera or microphone?

No. Hāpara Highlights cannot access a student's device camera or microphone.

Teachers cannot use Highlights to:

  • View a student's webcam feed
  • Listen through a student's microphone
  • Record Google Meet audio or video
  • Access camera or microphone content from another application

For more information about what teachers can and cannot see, see What teachers can and cannot see in Hāpara Highlights .

 

What can teachers see in Browser Tabs?

Teachers can use Browser Tabs in Class View to review browser activity from the student's monitored school browser.

If Google Meet is open, the teacher can see that the student has Google Meet open even though Current Screens does not display the Meet video.

Use Current Screens when you need visual context for the tab the student is actively viewing. Use Browser Tabs when you need to review browser URLs or get a broader view of the student's browsing activity.

To learn more about Current Screens and Browser Tabs, see Highlights: Class View .

 

Additional tips

  • Google Meet screenshots are protected when Google Meet is the active browser tab or window.
  • Highlights cannot access the student's webcam or microphone.
  • Teachers can still see that the student is using Google Meet.
  • If a student switches away from Google Meet, Current Screens can display the newly active browser content.
  • Use Browser Tabs when students are working across multiple tabs or windows.

 

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