Social media posts/accounts
Dear University of Portsmouth,
In December, the Daily Express found that “UK universities admitted to “monitoring” or “listening to” their student’s social media accounts”. Please see here: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/153557...
In light of this, 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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
I would like to receive this information in an electronic format. If you feel that a substantive response to this request is not possible within a reasonable time frame, I would be grateful if you could contact me and provide assistance as to how I can refine the request. If you need any clarification, please contact me. I look forward to receiving a response in 20 working days. Many thanks.
Yours faithfully,
Jenna Corderoy
Thank you for your email. Whilst we and the majority of our colleagues are working remotely from the University we will endeavour to respond to emails / requests / queries as soon as we are able and within any regulatory deadlines we may have, but please bear with us. We will keep you updated at all times about the progress of your request and let you know if we believe there may be a delay in responding for operational reasons
Dear Jenna,
Thank you for your email making a request for information, below, received
on 30 May 2022 under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Having consulted my colleagues, I am now able to provide the following
response to your request.
(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 conduct social media intelligence gathering or
monitoring. The University has not previously conducted such monitoring.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
Not applicable.
I trust that this is the information that you require, however, if you
have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me either by replying
to the email that sends this letter or by telephoning me directly on 02392
84 3103.
Yours sincerely,
Nicola
Nicola Young (she/her/hers)
Complaints and Information Disclosure Officer
University of Portsmouth
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Co-Chair of the [1]Neurodiverse Network
Member of the [2]LGBTQ Staff Network and [3]Multicultural Staff Network
E: [4][email address]
T: 023 92 84 3103
W: [5]www.port.ac.uk
University of Portsmouth, St Andrew's Court, St Michael's Road,
Portsmouth, PO1 2PR
Please don’t take offence if I don’t reply to say ‘thank you’. If every UK
adult sent 1 less courtesy email a day, we’d save over 16,400 tonnes of
carbon a year – so, [6]think before you thank.
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