Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
By Aquaponic Farmer
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

School for spying: Harvard under fire for secret surveillance study

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


Recent revelations that Harvard University had secretly photographed around 2,000 students as part of an attendance study has sparked a massive privacy row at the Ivy League institution.

School for spying: Harvard under fire for secret surveillance study

According to reports, cameras that captured images every minute were placed in 10 classrooms around campus during the Spring 2014 semester. A computer program later scanned all of the images to determine how many empty and full seats there were during lectures. Students and professors were not told the study was being conducted.

The study, conducted by Harvard’s Initiative for Learning and Teaching, was authorized by the school’s Institutional Review Board.

It was first disclosed at a faculty meeting Tuesday and later reported in The Harvard Crimson student newspaper.

The matter was brought up by Computer Science professor Harry Lewis, who first learned about the surveillance from two unidentified colleagues.

“Just because technology can be used to answer a question, doesn’t mean that it should be,” the Crimson cited Lewis as saying during the meeting. “And if you watch people electronically and don’t tell them ahead of time, you should tell them afterward.”

He would go on to demand that all the students and faculty involved in the study would be made aware their photographs had been taken.

“You should do studies only with the consent of the people being studied,” the Boston Globe reported Lewis as saying.

Harvard President Drew Faust said that she was taking the issue “very seriously” and would have the study reviewed.

In a statement, Harvard said Vice Provost Peter Bol, the professor tasked with conducting the study, had already reached out to every faculty member who was involved. It added that Bol would provide all of them with “full details.”

“In addition, Bol has committed to informing every student – using enrollment data – whose image may have been captured anonymously and subsequently destroyed as part of the research,” the Boston Globe cites the statement as saying.

Bol said that all of the professors whose lectures were observed were told in August, noting that all had given permission for the data to be used in the study. Although the students were not informed, he noted that all of their images had been destroyed.

Acknowledgement of the study comes over a year after it was revealed that university administrators had searched the email accounts of 16 deans. The search was conducted to determine who had leaked information to the media regarding a cheating scandal involving more than 100 students. Since then, new privacy policies on electronic communication were instituted to bolster security at the university.

While students and faculty don’t view secret photography to be as invasive as email searches, the revelation was still met with mixed reaction on campus.

“I wouldn’t call it spying, as some people have,” said Jerry R. Green, a professor of economics and former university provost, told the New York Times. “But I don’t think it’s a good thing.”

While some students viewed the incident as a violation of trust, others dismissed it due to the high prevalence of cameras on campus and in society at large.

 

www.patriotnetdaily.com



Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.