The digital privacy of students at Queens College is a controversial topic for social activist groups on campus. According to Claudia Colbert, Assistant Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, QC employs multiple levels of network security, requiring usernames and passwords to access the network. Additionally, Colbert said the network is policed using tools that continuously monitor network traffic to identify malware, botnets and other forms of malicious behavior. Ali Wassem, a sophomore and accounting and finance major minoring in Arabic, said he is more focused on his education but digital privacy and surveillance is a concern. “We’ve had informants inside our organization, and it is scary,” Wassem…
-
-
Want change? Demand privacy
From the Patriot Act and the exposure of classified government programs to the legality of compelling private companies to bypass security measures in the name of national security, the Fourth Amendment is regularly challenged for security. The debate over the right to privacy is highlighted by advancements in technology and government surveillance on minority and activist groups across the country. Privacy and security are often seen at odds with one another. The argument goes like this. The less privacy, the better the government can protect the citizens from threats. The fear the government monitors and complies the online activity of Americans alters the way people act online and offline. A…
-
Why your privacy rights matter
Last month Heartbleed became a major issue not only for media outlets, but Internet users as well. Major sites like Facebook, Youtube, Google, Instagram and Tumblr were at risk as a result of the security flaw. An April 30 poll by Pew Research Center found 39 percent of internet users “took steps to protect online accounts and information” as a result of Heartbleed. Interestingly, the study found the higher a person’s education, the more likely they were to change their password or bolster their security. For any person unsure about this or do not feel they know an adequate amount on this subject, they may be confused as to what…