Today in class we talked about the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). The purpose of this act is essentially to enforce online security, accessibility to records and personal information, and prevent the unauthorized access or distribution of personal information. With that, we also talked about the relations of this in a classroom setting and what implications this might have when using day to day technologies.
This week, I want to reflect on how FIPPA may impact my professional practice. Before today, I assumed that there were essentially no issues using Google or other related servers based in the U.S. Sometimes there are no alternatives and we are forced to use a U.S based server. Work arounds to using U.S based server technologies include: Generating a specific anonymous email for each student or getting consent (via parent/guardian). It’s important to always inform everyone involved and give them the option or alternatives (consent).
Incorporating FIPPA into my professional practice will be important as I continue to learn. I will need make sure that I am mindful of these implications and that I respect the security of my students, my friends and myself.
September 19, 2023