Facebook 'spying' warning for students
Updated on 18 July 2007
Universities accused of using social networking sites to gather damning background on students.
Students are being urged to tighten their security settings on social networking website Facebook to stop university authorities gleaning incriminating evidence about their involvement in late-night high jinks, writes PA.
Martin McCluskey, president of the Oxford University Students Union, has emailed members to warn that their online community is being spied on.
"It has been brought to the attention of the Student Union that the Proctors have been using evidence gathered from Facebook for disciplinary matters," he warned.
"Specifically, photos from post-exam celebrations on Merton Street have been sent to members of the university (including those already finished) as evidence of their being involved in 'trashings'.
'While the Student Union does not condone unruly, violent or disorderly behaviour, we believe that the privacy of our members should be protected.'Martin McCluskey, president of the Oxford University Students Union
"As such, we advise those of you with Facebook accounts to alter your privacy settings on Facebook to prohibit members of staff and faculty from viewing your profile and photographs."
He provided students with a set of instructions on how to alter the settings, adding: "While the Student Union does not condone unruly, violent or disorderly behaviour, we believe that the privacy of our members should be protected and that disciplinary procedures at all levels within the university should be fair and transparent."
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