Columbia University
Student Employee Places Columbia Student Information On Google-hosted Site
Quick Facts
- Date: 6/12/2008
- Institution: Columbia University
- Type of Incident: Employee Fraud
- Number Affected: 5,000
- Source: Pogo Was Right
- Abstract Source: Columbia Spectator, NY Sun
Abstract
Columbia University is apologizing to students after it discovered that a file available through a Google-hosted Web site contained personal student information. The file in question, a Housing and Dining database, was apparently uploaded by a student working for the Housing department in 2007. The student information was available from February 2007 through June 3, 2008 when an alumna discovered the personal information through a Google search. The university worked with Google to remove the file from the hosted web site. The university is offering two years of credit monitoring for the affected individuals. A petition circulated by Columbia students condemned the Housing department. The petition also called for department to launch an investigation of the student worker responsible for the incident, publicly disclose the results of the investigation the department is lawfully able to disclose and publicly report the steps the department will take to screen employees' ability to properly handle confidential information.
