By Stephanie Simon | Politico The pledge drew immediate criticism from privacy advocates. Chief among their concerns: Just 13 companies had committed to the pledge by Tuesday — and that list had some notable gaps. Neither Apple nor Google signed the pledge, though both promote their products heavily to schools. Neither would comment. Khan Academy, which offers free online tutorials used by millions of students worldwide, also declined to sign. A spokesperson said the nonprofit applauds “the principles of the pledge” but preferred to focus its energy elsewhere. Also conspicuously absent: global publishing powerhouse Pearson, which sells online curricula, textbooks and tutoring services. A spokesperson said Pearson “cares deeply about protecting the privacy of students, teachers and customers” but declined to discuss the matter further. - Read More |