Australia woman wanted answers about her son’s school day. Now she’s charged.

NewsA mother’s desperate move to protect her son led to criminal chargesSkye Cooper says concerns about her non-verbal son’s well-being at school led her to place a recording device in his clothing. Police later charged her under listening-device laws.Getty ImagesA mother in Victoria, Australia, is facing criminal charges after police say she secretly placed a recording device inside her non-verbal son’s clothing while he attended school.Skye Cooper said she made the decision after becoming increasingly worried about her 7-year-old son’s behavior. According to Cooper, the boy, who has autism, epilepsy and developmental delays, began refusing to go to school and showed signs of severe distress, ABC News Australia reported. She also said she noticed bruising on his arm.Cooper said she repeatedly raised concerns with school officials but felt her questions were not being fully answered. Looking for another way to learn what was happening, she sought advice from a disability advocate, who recommended placing a recording device in her son’s clothing.After listening to recorded audio, Cooper said she heard remarks from a school aide that she believed were troubling. She later removed her son from the school. The aide later issued a written apology, acknowledging the language used was inappropriate, according to ABC News.Police later charged Cooper under laws related to the use of listening devices. She said she was trying to protect a child who cannot speak for himself and is now considering whether to challenge the charge in court.The case has sparked debate about parental rights, disability advocacy and whether privacy laws should be updated when families suspect abuse or mistreatment.Chris Pugh covers trending news and national breaking stories, focusing on the moments, conversations, and cultural flashpoints shaping the national news cycle. Chris worked as a digital reporter for...This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by AL.com staff.