Internet filtering and blocking policies

Open Rights Group made this Freedom of Information request to University of Worcester

This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was partially successful.

Open Rights Group

Dear University of Worcester,

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.

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

Yours faithfully,

Charlie Parker
Researcher
Open Rights Group

Helen Johnstone, University of Worcester

I am out of the office today and will respond to your email on my return
on the 19th March

Helen Johnstone, University of Worcester

Dear Sirs

I confirm receipt of your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act and that we will respond within the statutory 20 working days

Regards
Helen Johnstone

Helen Johnstone
Head of Information Assurance/Manager – University Strategic Projects
University of Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester WR2 6AJ

Tel: 01905 855014
https://www.worcester.ac.uk/informationa...

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Helen Johnstone, University of Worcester

Dear Mr Parker

Further to your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act our response is as follows:

1. We do not block or filter students and staff on the University Campus sites

However, we do block and filter student, staff and public users within a shared library operated in conjunction with the local County Council.
Legal and Liability
Child Abuse
Drugs
Intolerance
Piracy and Copyright Infringement
Pornography
Self-Harm
Terrorism
Violence

Adult Themes
Criminal Activity
Gore
Restricted to Adults

File and Image Hosting
Unmoderated Image Hosting

Information and Reference
Plagiarism

IT and Technical
Peer to Peer Networking

Malware and Hacking
Hacking
Malware and Phishing
Web Proxies

Search engines
Secure Search

Web Infrastructure
Adverts

2. This data is not available.
3. The logs are kept for 4 months.

I am obliged, under the Freedom of Information Act, to inform you of our complaints procedures in case you are unhappy about the way in which your request has been dealt with.
If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been handled, you can request a review by writing to the Clerk to the Board of Governors, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Telephone: 0303 123 1113 – www.ico.gov.uk

Regards

Helen Johnstone

Helen Johnstone
Head of Information Assurance/Manager – University Strategic Projects
University of Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester WR2 6AJ

Tel: 01905 855014
https://www.worcester.ac.uk/informationa...

show quoted sections