Student Records Targeted by the FBI

A journalism student at Northwestern University has uncovered a previously unknown effort that used student loan records to track potential terrorists. Known as “Project Strike Back”, the program was a joint effort between the Department of Education and FBI. Launched in the days after the September 11^th attack, Project Strike Back allowed federal authorities to have access to thousands of student records. The program has allegedly been discontinued, but many questions remain about student rights during wartime.

According to the FBI, terrorists often obtain student status to defraud financial-aid and visa programs. The FBI provided the Department of Education with several hundred names and requested access to financial records. Officials at both the Department of Education and the FBI maintain that the program is constitutional and does not violate the privacy rights of students.

Even if this is technically true, the idea that student loan data can be used by any agency is extremely problematic. Information about student loans and other financial aid information are extremely personal. It also seems possible that the FBI might use these records to target campus activists who criticize the Bush Administration. There are numerous documented instances of the FBI questioning student anti-war activists.

If that wasn’t unnerving enough, federal officials are discussing the formation of national database that would track student academics. I’m not sure how the government knowing that I got a C- in Quantitative Methods is going to keep us safe from Al Qaeda. There is little doubt in my mind that this database will somehow find its way into the hands of future employers. Frankly, an academic database would be a gross invasion of privacy.

The academic database will be unveiled in the Department of Education’s forthcoming report, The Future of Higher Education. There aren’t a lot of details about the program available, but I plan to stay on top of this issue in the months to come.

No one is arguing that the government shouldn't be given the tools to combat terrorism. However, I am deeply concerned that the Bush Administration will use legitimate concerns about homeland security as an excuse to further invade the privacy of students.