Content filtering software

The request was successful.

Jennifer Gallagher

Dear University of Sunderland,

I would like to make a request for the following information under the Freedom of Information Act (2000).

1. Do you employ the use of content filtering software on the PCs based in your libraries which are connected to the internet and intended for use by the users of your library?

If answer to 1. is “yes”, please:

2. Provide the name and annual cost of the content filtering software.

3. Provide a full list of the categories of websites blocked (e.g. “pornography, gambling, phishing etc.”). If these differ according to the user profile accessing the PC (e.g. child, student, adult, staff etc.) please provide a full list of categories of websites blocked for each user profile.

4. Confirm whether you also block specific URLs in addition to categories, and provide a complete list of these URLs.

5. Provide the relevant policy document or written documentation which outlines the procedure a user must follow in instances where they would like to gain access to a website that is blocked.

6. From January 2013 until the present day, please provide a list of the URLs where users have requested access to despite them being blocked by the content filtering software.

7. Of the list provided in 6., please detail which URLs access was granted for and which were denied.

I hope the above requests are clear however please do not hesitate to get back in touch if any need clarifying.

Yours faithfully,

Jennifer Gallagher

Sunfoi sunfoi, University of Sunderland

Dear Jennifer,

Thank you for your request for information, which was received at the University on 27/05/2015 and is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  The University is currently researching your queries and will respond in due course.

Many Thanks

Sarah Preece
Administrative Support Officer / PA to Helen Cutting
Legal, Governance and Business Assurance
University of Sunderland
4th Floor
Edinburgh Building
City Campus
Chester Road
Sunderland
SR1 3SD
Tel: 0191 5152418

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Sunfoi sunfoi, University of Sunderland

Dear Jennifer,

 

Freedom of Information Request FOI437

 

I refer to your Freedom of Information Request received on 27^th May
2015.  You requested the following information:

 

Your Request

  

1. Do you employ the use of content filtering software on the PCs based in
your libraries which are connected to the internet and intended for use by
the users of your library?

 

If answer to 1. is “yes”, please:

 

2. Provide the name and annual cost of the content filtering software.

 

3. Provide a full list of the categories of websites blocked (e.g.
“pornography, gambling, phishing etc.”). If these differ according to the
user profile accessing the PC (e.g. child, student, adult, staff etc.)
please provide a full list of categories of websites blocked for each user
profile.

 

4. Confirm whether you also block specific URLs in addition to categories,
and provide a complete list of these URLs.

 

5. Provide the relevant policy document or written documentation which
outlines the procedure a user must follow in instances where they would
like to gain access to a website that is blocked.

 

6. From January 2013 until the present day, please provide a list of the
URLs where users have requested access to despite them being blocked by
the content filtering software.

 

7. Of the list provided in 6., please detail which URLs access was granted
for and which were denied.

 

 University’s Response

 

Further to Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the “Act”) we
confirm that the information requested is held by the University of
Sunderland (the “University”).

 

1. Do you employ the use of content filtering software on the PCs based in
your libraries which are connected to the internet and intended for use by
the users of your library?

 

The University of Sunderland does not currently employ content filtering
software on the PC’s based in our libraries.  The University is however
reviewing this position and may in the future consider using such
software.

 

As the answer to question 1 is no, questions 2 – 7 are not applicable.

 

Internal Review Procedure

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request then you have a
right under Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request
an internal review.  All such requests must be sent to us within 8 weeks
and must clearly state your reference number and your reason for your
request for an internal review.  We will respond to your request for an
internal review within 20 working days of receipt.

 

Your request for an internal review should be sent to:-

 

Legal, Governance and Business Assurance

University of Sunderland,

Fourth Floor Edinburgh Building,

City Campus,

Chester Road,

Sunderland,

SR1 3SD.

 

Or you can email your request to [1][email address], quoting your
FOI reference number.

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

 

Should you remain dissatisfied with the final outcome of the internal
review process then you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner
(“ICO”) for an independent review.  The Information Commissioner is the
Government’s Independent Body responsible for overseeing the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Environmental
Information Regulations 2004.

 

Please note the ICO will only review cases that have exhausted the
University’s internal review procedures.  All correspondence to the ICO
must quote the University’s reference number and your reasons for your
appeal.  The ICO’s contact details are as follows:-

 

The Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House,

Water Lane,

Wilmslow,

Cheshire,

SK9 5AF.

 

More information can be found at the ICO’s website at
[2]http://www.ico.org.uk

 

If you have any further enquiries about this matter, please do not
hesitate to contact us on 0191 515 2040, or by emailing
[3][email address].

 

Kind Regards

 

Sam Seldon,

Assurance Coordinator,

Legal, Governance and Business Assurance,

University of Sunderland,

4^th Floor Edinburgh Building,

Chester Road,

Sunderland,

SR1 3SD.

 

0191 515 2040

 

 

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