Privacy Concerns About Student Data

[ImpossibleDreamer]

Miami Herald December 3, 2004

The U.S. government requires personal information for students who receive federal tuition grants and loans. Now the Department of Education proposes to require colleges and universities to provide information on all students for a massive database. The data would follow students through their college careers, including schools to which they transfer.

In addition to name, birth date, gender, race and ethnicity, institutions would submit students' degree plan, expected graduation date, full-time or part-time status, grants and loans received and, most important, Social Security numbers. From a privacy standpoint, this last requirement is the most disturbing.

The most immediate problem would be to ensure that the database is secure. The data would represent an untapped gold mine for potential hackers, creating an incentive for mischief. Another concern is possible misuse of the database's personal information by government agencies interested in things other than research.

The department might find it difficult to resist political pressure to turn over information. In the words of one skeptic, ``[When] the White House calls, what are you going to do?''

[Jenn and tonic]

Hmm....I don't know if they would end up doing the social security part. Especially if they're unsure on how secure the information is.

I could understand giving the rest of the information, but the social security number doesn't need to be divulged unless it has to do with loans and financial stuff.

[kyle]

are you stupid impossible. of course the goverment is going to have all that stuff if they are going to pay for someones college. god you are dumb.

[ImpossibleDreamer]

Originally Said by ImpossibleDreamer

Miami Herald December 3, 2004

Now the Department of Education proposes to require colleges and universities to provide information on all students for a massive database.

The student information collected involves ALL students, not just students who receive loans and grants.

[CamX]

oh you guys don't know how much info the government already have about you.. simply everything.. just in different departments.. we've noooooo control over our privacy from them.. oh no..

[paperwings]

are you stupid impossible.

are you ignorant kyle

of course the goverment is going to have all that stuff if they are going to pay for someones college.

Have you read orwell's 1984.

god you are dumb.

Stupidity is always relative to the level of ignorance.