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Confidentiality and Privacy

The University does not censor information on its networks and servers, and it respects the privacy of electronic files. However, it will act on allegations of illegal use, and on complaints that information technology is being used for abusive, threatening or harassing communication. In such cases, it will review the contents of files transmitted over its networks. For example, if an allegation is made that someone has used the internet to transmit harassing messages or illegal materials, the University will investigate.

University policy protects the privacy of student and employee records. In general, the only records to which you have legitimate access are your own. For further information, see the Policy on Access to Information and Protection of Privacy.

E-mail: You should not assume that an e-mail is private. In general, e-mail should not be considered a secure means of transmitting information: internet communications are highly vulnerable to hacking. Avoid put anything confidential in an e-mail: the receiver might not be aware that the information is sensitive, and it is also easy to send messages to the wrong person, or forward them to an address list, by mistake.

In addition, e-mail messages are considered “publications” and are therefore not protected by privacy laws.

Websites: websites and web pages vary in their degree of security. Sites often define their security levels in their “help” section. You can also look for a locked padlock icon at the bottom of the screen, or for the acronym “https” (the ‘s’ means ‘secure’) in the URL: these indicate a relatively high degree of security.