Prevent and Internet filtering policies

The request was partially successful.

Dear Glasgow Caledonian University,

Can you please supply:

(1) your policy or policy guidance for duties under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 duties for the various local authorities listed in Schedule 6, known as “Prevent”;

(2) your policy relating to Internet filtering, blocking and prevention of access to material deemed inappropriate;

(3) the name of any providers of Internet filtering and blocking services that you use, or else a statement that you do not block or filter content at all;

(4) a list of agreements, arrangements or Memorandums of Understanding between yourselves and bodies such as the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), or Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) of the City of London Police, to receive lists of illegal or illicit content, for instance for the purposes of blocking.

Finally, can you tell me if:

(5) any filtering or blocking service that you use incorporates lists from the IWF, CTIRU or PIPCU, and which lists are incorporated.

Yours faithfully,

Jim Killock

Freedom of Information Enquiries,

Dear Mr Killock

Glasgow Caledonian University has received your request for information. The University is currently processing this and will get back to you as soon as possible. It will be responded to under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Yours sincerely
Saki Nakamura

Saki Nakamura | Administrator
Department of Governance
Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA.
Email [email address]

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Freedom of Information Enquiries,

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Killock

I refer to your request for information. The University's response is given below.

(1) your policy or policy guidance for duties under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 duties for the various local authorities listed in Schedule 6, known as “Prevent”;

Please see the link to our webpage http://www.gcu.ac.uk/theuniversity/unive...

(2) your policy relating to Internet filtering, blocking and prevention of access to material deemed inappropriate;

Please see the Information Systems policy http://www.gcu.ac.uk/media/gcalwebv2/sta...

(3) the name of any providers of Internet filtering and blocking services that you use, or else a statement that you do not block or filter content at all;
(4) a list of agreements, arrangements or Memorandums of Understanding between yourselves and bodies such as the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), or Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) of the City of London Police, to receive lists of illegal or illicit content, for instance for the purposes of blocking.
(5) any filtering or blocking service that you use incorporates lists from the IWF, CTIRU or PIPCU, and which lists are incorporated.

To respond to questions 3,4 and 5 would put University security at risk. The University is therefore relying on section 39 (1) Health, safety and the environment of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or safety of an individual and Section 30 (c) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs - Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would otherwise prejudice substantially, or be likely to prejudice substantially, the effective conduct of public affairs.

In reaching this decision the University has considered the public interest test and concluded that, after weighing up both sides, it is in the interests of the public to maintain the security of the University and its staff and students.

Please find attached a review notice setting out the steps you may take if you are not satisfied with the response provided to your request.

If there are any questions in relation to this request, please contact the University at [Glasgow Caledonian University request email].

Yours sincerely
Jean Ash
Information Compliance, Governance and Records Manager | Department of Governance

T: +44 (0)141 331 3341| F: +44 (0)141 331 8797 | E: [email address]
Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA,
Scotland, United Kingdom

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