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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Caitlin Cassidy

University of Melbourne breached students’ privacy by using wifi network to monitor pro-Palestine protest

Protesters gather inside university building a
Pro-palestine protesters inside the Arts West building at the University of Melbourne on 15 May 2024. Victoria’s deputy information commissioner found on Wednesday that the university's surveillance of students’ wifi data breached their privacy. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

The University of Melbourne (UoM) breached Victoria’s Privacy and Data Protection Act when it used its wifi network to surveil students and staff holding a pro-Palestine protest last May, which could have resulted in a “significant breach of trust”, the state’s deputy information commissioner has found.

The investigation, released on Wednesday, was prompted by media reports alleging UoM digitally tracked people at the sit-in to uncover potential misconduct.

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