I was rather alarmed earlier this year to have read that UoK had discloses the personal details of a large number of disabled students, and that (as Zack has recently reported) Yale has done the same with 43,000 social security numbers. I decided to write an email to the acting head of IT Support Services to allay my (and potential our) fears:
Dear Ms. Wilson,
I hope that I am addressing this email to the correct address, however the Kent website isn’t very clear on where to address specific queries. I would be very grateful if this email could be forwarded to the appropriate person.
I am about to start an MA at Kent, having finished an undergraduate degree last year. Given the University of Kent‘s unlawful disclosure of disabled personal data earlier this year (http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/university-of-kent-unlawfully-disclosed-disability-data/10023?tag=content;siu-container), as well as Yale University’s recent disclosure of 43,000 social security numbers following a Google index update, I am becoming increasingly aware that my personal data is not as safe as I previously believed it was being kept. I would be very grateful if you could outline what measures are taken by the University to ensure personal and financial student information is kept secure and private. What, for instance, has been actioned (following this year’s personal data disclosure incident) to ensure that my, and other students’, data will not be made public, risking either embarrassment or potential financial damage?
Whilst I am sure that the University takes every step it can to ensure data security, I am sure that you can understand my concerns given the several recent lapses in data protection. I hope you can allay me fears regarding the security (or potential lack thereof) of my data, and I look forward to receiving a response soon.
With best wishes,
—
Email and MSN: chris@thehenrys.eu
Skype: Chr1sH3nry
07815 088409
Academic site: http://kent.academia.edu/ChrisHenry
Blog: https://christophermhenry.wordpress.com/
“If you are ‘properly’ educated, you don’t notice these things.” Noam Chomsky
learning and polemic 