FOI request for internet search data policy at public institutions (universities)

The request was partially successful.

Dear Aberystwyth University,

I am writing as a research volunteer at the Open Rights Group. We are conducting a study to better understand filtering and blocking of websites on the public estate, to understand what content and sites are inaccessible and why. I am writing to ask about this in relation to Universities. We are following up our previous FOI requests with a refined list of questions to make the answers uniform and suitable for analysis. With this in mind, please answer the questions as directly as possible.
We would like to know, in relation to your publicly accessible Internet networks, or Internet networks for your clients:

1. The categories of content blocked or filtered, e.g.:
(a) Security or Malware
(b) Content types, eg adult, alcohol etc

2. Statistics relating to the requests blocked or filtered, eg how many site requests filtered or blocked per category

3. Monitoring requirements you have for users, eg if you record or may record their Internet usage

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Pascal Crowe (Open Rights Group)

Info Compliance [infstaff], Aberystwyth University

1 Attachment

Dear Pascal Crowe,

 

Thank you for your request for information, received by Aberystwyth
University on 20^th February 2018, in which you requested the following
information:

 

I am writing as a research volunteer at the Open Rights Group. We are
conducting a study to better understand filtering and blocking of websites
on the public estate, to understand what content and sites are
inaccessible and why. I am writing to ask about this in relation to
Universities. We are following up our previous FOI requests with a refined
list of questions to make the answers uniform and suitable for analysis.
With this in mind, please answer the questions as directly as possible.

We would like to know, in relation to your publicly accessible Internet
networks, or Internet networks for your clients:

 

1.    The categories of content blocked or filtered, e.g.:

a.    Security or Malware

b.    Content types, eg adult, alcohol etc

 

2.    Statistics relating to the requests blocked or filtered, eg how many
site requests filtered or blocked per category

 

3.    Monitoring requirements you have for users, eg if you record or may
record their Internet usage

 

You will receive a response as soon as possible, and in any event not
later than in 20 working days (21^st March 2018). 

 

Yours sincerely,              

 

Julie Archer

 

[1]cid:image001.png@01D12B88.C75973D0
   

Julie Archer Julie Archer

Rheolwr Cofnodion Records Manager
   

Llyfrgell Hugh Owen Hugh Owen Library 

Prifysgol Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth University,

Penglais, Penglais,

Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth,

SY23 3DZ SY23 3DZ

DU UK

   

Ffôn: +44 (0) 1970 62 8593 Tel: +44 (0) 1970 62 8593

Gwefan: [2]http://www.aber.ac.uk/cy/infocompliance/ Website: [3]http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/infocompliance/

http://archiveshub.ac.uk/contributors/ab... http://archiveshub.ac.uk/contributors/ab...

Twitter: @AberUniArchives Twitter: @AberUniArchives

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Prifysgol Aberystwyth www.aber.ac.uk
Prifysgol y Flwyddyn ar gyfer Ansawdd Dysgu - The Times & The Sunday Times
2018.

Aberystwyth University www.aber.ac.uk
University of the Year for Teaching Quality - The Times & The Sunday Times
2018.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.aber.ac.uk/
2. http://www.aber.ac.uk/cy/infocompliance/
3. http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/infocompliance/

Info Compliance [infstaff], Aberystwyth University

1 Attachment

Dear Pascal Crowe,

 

I am writing in response to your recent request for information under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’).  Please find below the
information requested.

 

1.    The categories of content blocked or filtered, e.g.:

a.    Security or Malware

b.    Content types, eg adult, alcohol etc

The University does not block or filter content, with the exception of
domains which are reported by our users as spam.

 

2.    Statistics relating to the requests blocked or filtered, eg how many
site requests filtered or blocked per category

Under section 1(1)(a) of the Act I can confirm that we do not hold this
information.

 

3.    Monitoring requirements you have for users, eg if you record or may
record their Internet usage

The University retains logs of network activity for a defined period of
time.  These may be accessed in the event of a breach of University rules
and regulations or a suspected crime.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Julie Archer

 

[1]cid:image001.png@01D12B88.C75973D0
   

Julie Archer Julie Archer

Rheolwr Cofnodion Records Manager
   

Llyfrgell Hugh Owen Hugh Owen Library 

Prifysgol Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth University,

Penglais, Penglais,

Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth,

SY23 3DZ SY23 3DZ

DU UK

   

Ffôn: +44 (0) 1970 62 8593 Tel: +44 (0) 1970 62 8593

Gwefan: [2]http://www.aber.ac.uk/cy/infocompliance/ Website: [3]http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/infocompliance/

http://archiveshub.ac.uk/contributors/ab... http://archiveshub.ac.uk/contributors/ab...

Twitter: @AberUniArchives Twitter: @AberUniArchives

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Prifysgol Aberystwyth www.aber.ac.uk
Prifysgol y Flwyddyn ar gyfer Ansawdd Dysgu - The Times & The Sunday Times
2018.

Aberystwyth University www.aber.ac.uk
University of the Year for Teaching Quality - The Times & The Sunday Times
2018.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.aber.ac.uk/
2. http://www.aber.ac.uk/cy/infocompliance/
3. http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/infocompliance/