Students at De Montfort University could be placed under constant surveillance

Students at the De Montfort University in Leicester have raised concerns about a new chip being placed in their ID cards which monitors the attendance at lectures and tutorials.

The system works by using the Wi-Fi network around the campus to track the location of all students with a chipped ID card, the network will then log who is attending classes and who is not. The plan was discussed and subsequently approved at a meeting of the university’s executive board, and a further consultation will now occur.

Although many universities use cards to swipe in and out of lectures for security reasons, this represents a worrying deviation, with all students effectively monitored at all times when on campus. This could potentially be used to track the movements of those involved in protest groups or minority groups wrongly suspected of being involved in terrorism.

English language and media student Manisha Hellan, 19, said:

“You come to university to be treated like an adult, not a child. As long as you get your work done, whether you go to lectures or not should be your choice. I understand the reasoning behind it but my concern is what else it could be used for – it's a bit Big Brother.”

Aaron Porter, the outgoing president of the National Union of Students, believes the system is open to abuse. He said:

“Those who stand to pay increasing fees for the privilege of studying will baulk at the prospect of being treated like inmates under surveillance. Software allowing universities to keep constant tabs on students has the potential to be abused.”

“Any university seeking to teach such a practical lesson in Orwell studies has its work cut out in seeking to convince students that forced exposure to round-the-clock monitoring will not infringe on their privacy or dignity.”

A DMU spokeswoman responded:

"We are currently exploring whether or not to use an electronic student attendance monitoring system. No decision has yet been made."

Considering De Montfort University have opted to charge the maximum £9,000 fees from 2012, some students may feel that this is a high price to pay to be under constant surveillance. A simple swipe card is sufficient to monitor attendance if there are serious concerns about security, but this is a step too far and Big Brother Watch would like to see it cancelled before it comes into effect. The system is hardly fool proof in any case, as one person could take 10 cards into a lecture hall to give the impression that all 10 students are present.

Comments

[me]

On the positive side an attempt to implement this scheme could educate a generation in how to oppose BB.

[j.n.]

I almost always leave my university i.d. card at home, quite deliberately. In 7yrs of MA and PhD study, no security guard has ever asked to see it.

[Donatello Pizzaface]

I think my ID card requires it's own little tin foil hat now...

(In this case, it realy will work.)

[Purlieu]

Nice earner there - I'll take your card into lectures for a fiver LOL

[Supra Strapped NS]

Every dog has his day.

[John]

Haha an obviously outrageous proposal, but I agree with you guys (and/or gals), it might stimulate entire generations to get creative in circumventing the authorities.
I'm only concerned about the sheeple for whom such measures will be yet another early lesson in compliance and obedience...

[DiscoveredJoys]

Several public roads run through the collection of buildings which form the De Montfort University campus. This means that unless the ID card chips are deliberately limited the University will be monitoring students when not on University grounds.

Although I don't recommend any illegal acts, if anyone chose to clone the ID cards there could be many reports of the same person in many simultaneous locations... 'I am Spartacus, No I am Spartacus, No...'

[Richard Craven]

@John

The word 'sheeple' crops up everywhere on weirdo conspiracy-theory forums. I find that rather tiresome.