Matthew Boyle reports:
A conservative non-profit is raising privacy concerns over a Department of Education (DoED) rule change that will allow for “personally identifiable information” about students to be shared with other government departments. Personally identifiable information that could potentially be shared includes hair color, blood type, family health history and students’ grades and other academic records.
The DoED rule changes are part of a reinterpretation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). The proposed changes have conservative group American Principles in Action (APIA) up in arms. APIA says they are a breach of students’ and families’ privacy rights.
Read more in The Daily Caller
The DOE’s proposal is not only in conflict with the intentions of FERPA, but the government appears actually stupid about data security issues if they think that appointing a Chief Privacy Officer is any protection. The DOE and states have all failed to ensure adequate data protection of student and employee personal and sensitive information and this is a nightmare waiting to happen.