Bath University student union has postponed its plans for an
on-line registration system, after students and staff claimed that
the web site was breaching the Data Protection Act, according to a
report by Computer Weekly.
The on-line registration system was introduced as part of the
union’s plan to outsource the management of its student databases.
The union aimed to increase its income by sending targeted e-mails
and text messages to registered students. The information collected
on the web site was also to be used for issuing union membership
cards.
The web site, without posting a data protection notice or
privacy policy, asked students to disclose information such as
their address, mobile phone number, but also sensitive data such as
disabilities and religious beliefs.
According to Computer Weekly, Students and staff accused the
union of breaching the 1998 privacy law and claimed that the web
site was asking for more information than is necessary for
registration purposes. They also claimed that it was not clear
whether the union would disclose sensitive data to third
parties.
Bath University has asked the union to take down the web
site.
