Uni in Private Data Blunder
By: York Vision
University department releases preliminary exam results and personal information of students in a mass email.
Vision has blurred the names of those whose personal details were leaked.
A major privacy breach has accidently released confidential and personal information of students.
A mass email, which named 70 Archaeology students, showed their exam grades and highlighted those with learning disabilities.
Minutes after the data was sent, the department wrote another message asking students to “delete it straight away”.
The personal information named students with dyslexia and showed exam results that have not been finalised. An administrator claimed: “I think I mangled it when saving, so it is meaningless and misleading. I will re-send your anonymised marks.”
University rules say that “only your examination candidate number identifies you until marking has been completed.” But some of the marks which were listed next to candidates’ names have not yet been externally marked.
One 3rd year Archaeology student told Vision: “This was clearly an honest mistake, but it puts some students in a very difficult position and could cause them embarrassment.
“Most people are open about their grades and learning difficulties, but for some people this is a private matter and should have remained so.”
He added: “Now that everyone can see my exam number, none of my results can ever be anonymous.”
The privacy breach has also raised questions over the fairness and anonymity of future marking within the department. It is unclear whether tutors and lecturers will be able to access the data.
The Archaeology Department were contacted by Vision but did not comment on the incident.
But, the administrator who sent the confidential data told students: “Lesson learned – when you download a new version of Excel make sure you check your work carefully. Twice.”
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Posted: Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 11:01 am
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better that than the sycophancy seen amongst the comments.
Comment edited by a moderator
Oh how witty, Did you think of that comment all by yourself? You must be a absolute credit to the University
Hmmmmm I like Anon.’s witty repartee, but I also like Anon’s use of sarcasm…but which is better?! There’s only one way to find out….FIIIIGHT!!
The tone of the article wasn’t in the style of a witch hunt, the headline (an an unfortunate pun on page 2) sensationalized the issue.
And, as has been repeated ad nauseum, full credit to Vision for messing up the blur in the paper.
“1st year old gas bag”
“brown noser”
And witty banter aside, what fantastic moderation there is here, allowing personal insults to stand for almost 24 hours. Congrats on that, Vision, another ‘triumph’ for freedom of the press!
For god sake. Why are people so bothered about this? It’s a good story, the fact it’s got you all so wound up proves it.
I think it can be said that this was a story that needed to be published as it has raised a serious issue about personal data.
I also think it has raised a serious issue with however decides on what pctures are acceptable to be published with an article. Knowing the sensistivity of the matter of private data they still printed the exact data that has caused so much upset And although vision have further blurred the names so it is now unreadable they should still take it down, as has been requested by the people involved. Their names may no longer be visible but the rest of their information is still there. Although candidate numbers should be private the fact is they are not as secure as they should be.
I would like to ask the people who approved the printing of the picture how they would feel if their department, year, modules, candidate number, disabilites and recent results were printed on the front page. Names or not it is still upsetting, especially when it is matter that was long ago put to rest.
Previous comment should read –
with whoever decides on what pictures