Microsoft, 13 other U.S. education technology companies sign pledge to protect student data. The pledge may also be an attempt to propose self-regulation as an alternative to tighter federal laws. The push by the educational technology sector to develop new products and services for the education market has already come under scrutiny. California Governor Jerry Brown last week signed a bill that would prohibit targeting of students for online marketing and advertising purposes, selling of student information, profiling students based on data collected, and requires operators to have security measures.”]