Common Sense launches education privacy seal as Prodigy and Kahoot! earn first awards

Prodigy Education and Kahoot! among the first to meet new certification for trusted digital privacy

Common Sense Privacy, a spinout of Common Sense Media, has launched a certification program aimed at helping consumers and educators identify education technology products that meet higher-than-average standards for data privacy.

The Common Sense Privacy Seal is now being awarded to companies that demonstrate best practices in areas including user data protection, third-party tracking, and commercial profiling.

The certification comes amid growing concerns about the complexity of online privacy policies and the increased use of AI, biometric data, and behavioral tracking in digital tools used by students and educators.

Common Sense launches digital privacy seal

The seal is designed to provide an accessible, trusted signal to families and schools about which tools prioritize user data protection. Products are reviewed using a 200-question rubric, which evaluates companies on six core criteria: no data sales, no third-party marketing, no targeted advertisements, no third-party tracking, no cross-app tracking, and no commercial profiling.

Daphne Li, CEO of Common Sense Privacy, said:

“A recent study showed that it would take the average person 46.6 hours to read all the privacy policies of the websites they visit in a month and without expertise in privacy, much of that time would be wasted. For the first time, consumers will have a trusted brand that can verify privacy best practices.”

Privacy standards go beyond compliance

Credit: Prodigy Education

The seal is awarded to fewer than 10 percent of companies that go through the evaluation process. In addition to the technical audit, Common Sense analysts conduct individual meetings with participating companies, offer recommendations, and require recipients to commit to quarterly monitoring and annual policy updates.

According to Li, the initiative reflects a shift from compliance-focused models to proactive privacy design.

“When consumers see the Common Sense Privacy Seal, they know they’re engaging with a company that treats privacy as a priority—rather than an afterthought,” she said.

Prodigy and Kahoot! among first recipients

Toronto-based Prodigy Education and global learning platform Kahoot! were among the first companies to receive the new certification. Both firms emphasize minimal data collection and transparency in their platforms, which are used by millions of students and teachers worldwide.

Ben Johnson, Chief Technology Officer at Prodigy, said:

Credit: Prodigy Education

“It’s vitally important that anyone who teaches or learns with Prodigy does so with peace of mind. The Common Sense Privacy Seal highlights our commitment to privacy best practices, demonstrating why Prodigy has earned trust in classrooms and homes worldwide.”

Ingvild Næss, Chief Information Officer at Kahoot!, commented:

“Privacy is at the core of our commitment to creating a safe and engaging learning experience for educators, parents, and businesses. By following a privacy-by-design approach, we collect only the minimal data necessary to operate our services, also ensuring user information is protected at every step. Earning the Common Sense Privacy Seal reinforces our ongoing efforts to uphold the highest privacy standards, providing users with the confidence they need to focus on learning and engagement.”

Growing need for transparency in edtech

As use of AI accelerates across the education sector, Common Sense has argued that privacy evaluations should become a standard part of vetting edtech platforms. The organization has now reviewed more than 5,000 products and encourages users to explore privacy ratings through its platform.

The initiative is intended to help educators and families make informed decisions and support companies looking to go beyond basic compliance.