Explores the nature of privacy with regard to information about the individual and reviews governmental legislation affecting confidentiality in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, focusing particularly on the role of computers and the library. (FM)

Twenty-three journal articles on program evaluations were surveyed for incidence of four unethical practices: withholding purpose or mere existence of an evaluation from participants; exposure to stress; invasion of privacy; and denial of program benefits to control groups. Few violations were apparent. (CP)

States that lawsuits are being filed that challenge anonymity and freedom of speech in cyberspace--is there a right to online anonymity? Examines the debate and issues associated with anonymous communications in cyberspace. Explores the "right of informational privacy" as it pertains to anonymity. Suggests some regulatory approaches for…

Identifies and summarizes key provisions of the privacy regulations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Suggests approaches a university can take to achieve compliance with those provisions, and discusses issues raised by the privacy regulations that are of particular relevance to the academic community. (EV)

Describes how student activism has prompted a number of colleges to begin phasing out their use of Social Security numbers in databases. (EV)

Considers the advent of surveillance societies--(i.e.,) societies where integrated surveillance of individuals is possible through various automated databases--with examples drawn from Canada and Sweden. Legislative efforts to regulate such developments and the role of data protection agencies are discussed. (13 references) (MES)

Examines developments among public record information providers, including a shift from file acquisition to entire company acquisition. Highlights include a table of remote access to public records by state; pricing information; privacy issues; and information about the three main companies offering access to public records: LEXIS, CDB Infotek,…

Finds that relationship intimacy interacts with privacy violation types to affect the likelihood of using certain interaction control strategies. Shows that the need for not neighboring interacted with type of privacy invasion to affect the likelihood of using expression of negative arousal strategies. (SR)

Discusses online communication, including privacy issues, electronic bulletin board systems, attitudes and habits from other types of communication, the proper register for online communication, training students, and teachers as moderators. (LRW)

Presents four possible alternatives for handling intrafamily confidentiality, and evaluates the alternatives in accordance with Kitchener's ethical principles. Concludes that confidentiality exists for the benefit of the client, and when that benefit ceases to exist or is overridden by other factors, alternatives to absolute confidentiality must…

Examines issues regarding rights, obligations, risks, privacy, and policy related to HIV/AIDS in sports, discussing the growing dilemma for sports professionals to weigh an athlete's right to privacy against their own duty to warn in the decision-making process; describing mandatory HIV testing for athletes; and providing guidelines based on…

Despite the 1998 Children's Online Privacy Act's supposed protections, most web sites still collect personal information and post no privacy statements. Internet-filtering software packages are described and suggestions given for creating a safe environment, dismantling "cookies," informing parents and teachers, and checking…

Question dimensions, construction, and response formats of 50 reactionnaire forms completed by participants in medical school programs were analyzed. Numerous problems in 30 forms and shortcomings in 20 others were identified. Ways to improve layout, appearance, anonymity protection, and questions were suggested. (Contains 53 references.) (SK)

Ethical issues involved in using journals in education include balancing the personal and professional and assessing journal writing. Principles adult educators can apply include respect, justice, beneficence, self-awareness, and caring. (Contains 26 references.) (SK)

Discusses potential liability concerns for public and private colleges and universities regarding public disclosure of faculty teaching evaluations. Guidelines for dealing with these records are given. (SK)