A website set up to enable students to publicly comment on the performance of their university lecturers is being investigated by the data watchdog after a number of lecturers have given the site bad marks for privacy.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has confirmed it is looking into the handling of personal data by Rate Your Lecturer, although the site denies it has broken any rules.
Launched by Sterling Ideas earlier this year, it attempts to give a full list of academic staff at each UK higher education institution.
Bill Cooke, a lecturer at Lancaster University Management School, has already raised concerns that because the site was not registered as a data controller with the ICO – a requirement for firms that store personal data – it was in breach of data protection rules.
Professor Cooke, along with at least one other lecturer, made a formal complaint to the ICO, alleging that the website refused to remove his personal details when requested to do so – something he believes the site is obliged to do.
A second complainant, Professor Bernardo Batiz-Lazo, at Bangor Business School, Bangor University, said his concern was also around the use of his name without prior consent.
But Rate Your Lecturer founder Michael Bulman has denied the site contravenes any legislation or regulations, stating that all of the personal information about academics was already in the public domain.
“We would also point out that we have a comprehensive reporting system on the website, for anyone objecting to specific ratings, although to date…the vast majority of ratings have been constructive and positive,” he said.
1 Comment on "Lecturers give rating site ‘F’ for fail"
1 Trackbacks & Pingbacks
Comments are closed.
Lecturers cry foul over website which rates their performances, giving it a big ‘F’ for #dataprotection http://t.co/MzeSDsWzX9