With respect, this is a grossly ignorant and dismissive response. Saying “National has no plans” is not leadership—it’s apathy.
It is very likely that posts like this one are already being scraped and catalogued as potential targets—if they aren’t, they soon will be. You already hold my data, my son’s data, and soon my younger son’s and my daughter’s as well. That’s not theoretical—it’s real. Families like mine deserve more than a one-line brush-off.
I would appreciate a lot more urgency than this apathetic, lazy tone. We are talking about sensitive youth and family data, tied to outdated systems and policies. Get off your ass and do something about it. API access and modern security practices are not optional anymore—they are the bare minimum for organizations that want to be trusted with this kind of responsibility.
Remember that @DonovanMcNeil and the other SUAC volunteers have no control over the development decisions. They’re only volunteer scouters who support Scoutbook and SB+ as best they’re permitted under rules and the NDAs they’ve cited before. Digitally fussing at them accomplishes nothing, as they’re not in a decision-making position, nor can they (as they’ve noted before) under those NDAs disclose specifics of what they know or how they know it. They are as close to scouting officialdom as you get on these forums, and they’re saying they’ve been told by national that no such API access is going to be provided (and have posted as much numerous times over the years). Anything more official, and you have to start talking to Scouting America staff, who are not on these forums.
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@ChristopherSmith34
You have already been given the answer. All support is via your local Council. You will not be given any contact information beyond this as everyone who monitors the forums is a volunteer and either does not know or cannot reveal contacts in Scouting America IT.
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Charley, I appreciate you clarifying SUAC’s role and I know you and others are doing your best as volunteers under NDA constraints. I don’t hold that against you.
That said, I was struck by the phrase “digitally fussing.” I want to be clear—I’m not here to fuss. I’ve already said I’m willing to show up in person if that’s what it takes. What I’m doing here is pressing for accountability around risks that are spelled out in Scouting America’s own Privacy Policy. Collecting medical data, sharing with third parties, vague retention, no HIPAA clarity, no breach-notification—these aren’t small issues.
So while I understand SUAC can’t make development decisions, dismissing concerns as “fussing” doesn’t move us forward. What I need is direction toward the right channel where accountability can happen. If SUAC can’t escalate, then please help point me to who can.
