CAIR Calls on Md. Lawmakers to Protect Student Data
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have authored a letter to Gov. Wes Moore (D) Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) and the Maryland General Assembly asking them to protect student privacy by prohibiting campus administrators from sharing students' data with federal agencies without a warrant. In a press release Friday, CAIR asked other faith-based organizations, advocacy groups, and student associations from across the state to sign on to the letter as well.
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"Maryland must take immediate action to ensure that our colleges and universities commit to upholding [Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act]'s requirements and protect all students' privacy," the letter said. "The impact of fear on academic performance and student engagement cannot be overstated; we must create an environment where all students feel safe to pursue their education."
Students shouldn't be afraid that their personal information "will be disclosed to government agencies or politicians for possible retaliation against their political viewpoints,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. "It’s imperative that we come together as a community to demand accountability and protections for students.”
The letter comes in the wake of reports of unlawful student abductions and detentions from colleges and universities across the country, CAIR said. It urges the governor, AG and state lawmakers to take actions including an executive order and emergency legislation prohibiting Maryland schools from sharing private data of students without a warrant, and educational initiatives that make students aware of their rights. The deadline to sign the letter is March 31.