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5 responses to “Safeguard Privacy of Student Contact Info”

1. 

   Lawrence Hincker

   January 25, 2018

   Jim,

   One little known aspect of this controversy – to a large extent, universities themselves define contents of “directory information,” which makes this otherwise private info subject to disclosure. During my time as Virginia Tech’s FOIA officer, we never disclosed student email or cell phone data, because we did not include it in directory information. That obviously changed after I left.

   As the Virginia Tech FOIA officer for more than two decades, I saw a lot of requests for information. Interestingly, our students or their families got bombarded by marketers selling something but not until information was used in a political campaign do we see legislative action changing access to said information. Mmm. The political posturing now is a bit hard to stomach.

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2. 

   Lawrence Hincker

   January 25, 2018

   Jim,

   One little known aspect of this controversy – to a large extent, universities themselves define contents of “directory information,” which makes this otherwise private info subject to disclosure. During my time as Virginia Tech’s FOIA officer, we never disclosed student email or cell phone data, because we did not include it in directory information. That obviously changed after I left.

   As the Virginia Tech FOIA officer for more than two decades, I saw a lot of requests for information. Interestingly, our students or their families got bombarded by marketers selling something but not until information was used in a political campaign do we see legislative action changing access to said information. Mmm… looks at bit like political posturing or maybe closing the barn door after the cows walked out.

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   1. 

      James A. Bacon

      January 25, 2018

      Haha! Nothing is so certain to stimulate action by politicians than when their personal interests are affected! But political posturing aside, the privacy issue is still a legitimate one.

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      1. 

         LarrytheG

         January 25, 2018

         it was “legitimate” LONG BEFORE it was “political” though….

         and the GA had a long time to act on it prior to now.

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3. 

   LarrytheG

   January 25, 2018

   https://www.nomorobo.com/ you’re welcome.

   I get junk mail all the time from Republicans.. How can I stop it?

   Is there a NOMOREGOPCALLS?

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