Project Introduction

The Stanford Student Computer and Network Privacy Project conducted a pilot study that isolated and investigated student privacy issues and concerns.  Based on the study, we suggest that Stanford University (also referred to as “the University” or “Stanford”) place greater emphasis on increasing awareness of student privacy issues through literature distribution and educational programs, that students play a part in their own protection by revealing less information on personal webspace and taking other similar precautions, that the Stanford Security Office keep an audit log to ensure proper use of access privileges, and that Stanford’s official privacy policy be revised and made easily accessible in the next two years.  We hope to encourage other universities to examine the state of computer and network privacy on their campuses. 

First, we surveyed a small sample of the student body to consider their expectations and perceptions of student privacy rights on the Stanford network.  Second, we investigated the current state of computer and network privacy at Stanford.  In this section, we identified and exposed many of the privacy risks associated with the Stanford Network.   Third, we considered various laws and policies aimed at protecting student privacy.  Fourth, we attempted to analyze where Stanford is headed in its protection of students' privacy.  We also considered other universities’ privacy policies and how they compare to Stanford’s.   Finally, we concluded with recommendations on what Stanford should do to provide more privacy protection and suggestions on future studies.