Privacy Considerations During the COVID 19 Shelter-in-Place
- We understand that these are challenging times and that many of us are working remotely for the first time. For telecommuting best practices from a privacy and security perspective; please consult the the Information Security Office's; Best Practices For Telecommuting Page.
- For best practices for using Zoom securely when working remotely see our Guidance for Protecting Data and Privacy When Using Zoom.
- When working from home with paper documents, please store them securely (locked in a cabinet if possible) and do not leave them in an unattended vehicle. Try to limit the printing of confidential information when possible.
- Be aware of Phishing campaigns related to the COVID - 19 crisis. For relevant information, do not click on links that you receive via email or text, advertising updates related to the virus; rather go directly to relevant government and healthcare sites such as Center for Disease Control's Home Page to obtain information.
- Employee privacy rights should still be protected. Managers should refrain from asking employees about their health or medical conditions or the health of their family members. For related questions, contact Human Resources (510-642-7053) or the Campus Privacy Office: privacyoffice@berkeley.edu; (510-664-7775).
Privacy at UCB
"Privacy is fundamental to the University...
Academic and intellectual freedoms are values of the academy that help further the mission of the University. These freedoms are most vibrant where individuals have autonomy: where their inquiry is free because it is given adequate space for experimentation and their ability to speak and participate in discourse within the academy is possible without intimidation. Privacy is a condition that makes living out these values possible." (read more at Why Privacy?)
The UC Berkeley Privacy Office is the focal point for campus privacy issues. The Privacy Office strives to protect and promote UC Berkeley’s privacy values through a unified and comprehensive privacy program, and oversees institutional compliance with federal and state privacy regulations, as well as campus and UC policy.
The work of the Privacy Office is organized around four program areas:
- Compliance – Oversight of our legal, regulatory, and contractual privacy obligations
- Policy/Governance – Establishing direction, responsibilities, and intended outcomes in privacy, also interpreting privacy policy and managing the investigation of reported violations
- Outreach – Educating our internal community to establish expectations and promote awareness, as well as external communications and collaboration
- Privacy by Design – Align campus practices with stated privacy values by building privacy safeguards into campus administrative processes.
UC Statement of Privacy Values and UC Privacy Principles
Privacy vs. Privacy (Berkeley Blog)
UC Berkeley is replacing the longstanding "security vs. privacy" polemic with a triptych of interrelated and overlapping terms: autonomy privacy, information privacy, and information security. But the old conundrum remains: common best practices for protecting information privacy can negatively impact autonomy privacy.
Contact the UC Berkeley Privacy Office
privacyoffice@berkeley.edu
(510) 664-7775
