Elizabeth Denham has committed to look at evidence which allegedly shows UK universities belonging to the Russell Group sent former students’ data to firms for wealth screening before approaching them for donations. Profiling individuals for a fundraising campaign is not illegal, but the law requires that people are informed of how their data is being used. Denham said: “Personal data belongs to the individual and that means they have the right to make choices about how it is used. Responding to allegations published in the Daily Mail, he said: “All Russell Group universities in England and Wales are registered with the Fundraising Regulator and when there are changes in guidance on best practice they will follow these closely. “Our members are hugely grateful for the ongoing commitment to higher education shown by so many Russell Group alumni and take their privacy very seriously.”

Source: The Guardian November 20, 2017 00:22 UTC