23 June 2022
By email to: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Dear Jenna Corderoy,
I refer to your Freedom of Information request received on 30 May 2022 about monitoring of
social media posts and accounts.
Details of any exemptions applied are below. Where any information is “not held”, this is
explained below. Those parts of the University’s response (together with the details of how
to ask the University to review the management of your request, or thereafter to seek a
review by the Scottish Information Commissioner, should you wish to do so – please see
below) constitutes the notice in writing that the information specified is not held by the
University which is required under section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act
2002 (“FOISA”).
Your enquiry and the University’s response
I would like to request the following information:
(1) Please indicate whether the university is currently monitoring, or has previously monitored,
students and staff’s social media posts/accounts.
The University does not routinely monitor staff or student social media posts/accounts. Where a
complaint arises relating to social media activity it is possible that an account/posts may be checked
as part of any investigation.
(2) If the university is currently monitoring, or has previously monitored, students and staff’s social
media posts/accounts, could you please provide reasons as to why this is the case. Please also
provide copies of policies or guidelines in relation to the monitoring of students and staff social
media posts.
The University does not routinely monitor staff or student social media posts/accounts. We do not
have any policy or guidelines relating to the monitoring of staff or student posts/accounts.
(3) If the university is currently monitoring, or has previously monitored, students and staff’s social
media posts/accounts, could you please indicate whether this was in regards to (i) environmental
protests (ii) rent strikes (iii) other protests or strike action.
We have not monitored any posts/accounts in relation to protests or strike action.
(4) If the university is currently monitoring, or has previously monitored, students and staff’s social
media posts/accounts, could you please state whether any specific software is used.
We do not use software to monitor staff or student posts/accounts.
(5) If the university is currently monitoring, or has previously monitored, students and staff’s social
media posts/accounts, could you please indicate whether this is carried out internally or that this
function is outsourced. If it is outsourced, please provide details.
N/A
This concludes the University’s response.
Your right to seek a review of how your information request was managed
If you are not satisfied with our response or our reasoning set out above, you have 40
working days in which to require a review of our decision. Any such request should be put in
writing and should be sent to the University Secretary, Abertay University, at the address
provided below. The request should:
(a) detail your request for a review of our decision to be undertaken
(b) describe the nature of your original request
(c) explain the reasons why you are dissatisfied with our response
Interim Secretary to University Court
Abertay University
Bell Street
Dundee
DD1 1HG
Tel (01382) 308016
E-mail:
x.xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xx.xx
If you remain dissatisfied with how your request for information has been dealt with, you also
have the right, in terms of section 47 of FOISA, and within 6 months, to apply to the Scottish
Information Commissioner for a decision as to whether we have handled your request
properly.
Information relating to your right to seek review is available from the Scottish Information
Commissioner's website:
http://www.itspublicknowledge.info
or by contacting the Scottish Information Commissioner's Office at the following address:
Scottish Information Commissioner,
Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road, St Andrews,
Fife KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Fax: 01334 464611
E-mail:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxx Website:
http://www.itspublicknowledge.info
Or via the SIC’s online appeals service:
http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourRights/Unhappywiththeresponse/AppealingtoCommi
ssioner.aspx
If you are unhappy with the Commissioner’s decision, you also have the right to appeal
further to the Court of Session, on a point of law only, under section 56 of FOISA. Please
refer to the Commissioner’s website (details above) for further information about your right of
appeal to the Court of Session.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Processing
Abertay University
Bell Street
DUNDEE DD1 1HG
E-mail: xxx@xxxxxxx.xx.xx
Abertay University is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC016040