Data breach
In this modern age of data breaches, Heartbleed and hackers, it’s imperative for universities to ensure students have as comprehensive privacy as possible.
Especially at this university in the wake of an unfortunate cyberattack, it’s essential for administrators to make clear the importance of online privacy.
That’s why we’re encouraged by the University System of Maryland decision to take initiative and adopt provisions from a privacy bill that failed to pass the state General Assembly. The bill would have made it illegal for university officials and administrators to force students to share their social media passwords.
While it’s unfortunate this common sense bill hasn’t been passed as official legislation, it’s a strong gesture from the system that it intends to take action on its own. The new policy creates essentially the same rule.
Still, as social media lawyer and George Washington University professor Bradley Shear explained, “a policy can easily be changed; legislation cannot be so easily changed.” We urge Del. Shawn Tarrant (D-Baltimore City) and Sen. Ronald Young (D-Frederick and Washington) to fight harder in Annapolis to make that bill state law.
Even without official legislation, Shear said the new policy from the university system remains a “good first step,” and we agree. But we also agree with his assessment that there must be a penalty of some sort to go along with it. As it stands, the policy seems far too loose and susceptible to loopholes and changes.
Online privacy for students is truly imperative, and this university knows all too well the consequences of having that privacy violated. The system should work to strengthen its current policy, and state representatives should follow suit and pass legislation in Annapolis that will protect student passwords online.
