Tensions arise in the discourse among educational institutions, public administration, and BigTech concerning the use of commercial digital platforms within the Catalan educational system

Abstract

The current process of educational digitization is characterized by the massive presence of digital platforms from large technological corporations in educational institutions, which has led to significant transformations in the public administration of compulsory education. This article presents the results of a study aimed at identifying and analyzing the main aspects that create tensions in the discourse of three stakeholder groups regarding the use of commercial digital platforms in schools in Catalonia, Spain. Through qualitative research, in-depth interviews were conducted with six school directors, four representatives from the public administration, and three representatives from major technological corporations. Subsequently, a relational discourse analysis was carried out, allowing the results to be categorized into the following three areas: (1) services and products of commercial digital platforms; (2) uses of commercial digital platforms in the education system; and (3) management and use of data by commercial digital platforms in the education system. The results highlight the need for greater involvement of the public administration to ensure a safe use of these digital resources in schools and to protect the rights of children.