Ethical issues and approach in e-learning

2. Privacy and data protection

In digital e-learning environments, student privacy and data protection are key ethical issues. Systems such as Moodle LMS, Microsoft Teams or Google Workspace collect a wide range of information that includes not only basic identification data (name, surname, email), but also data on progress, learning patterns, time spent in the system, and even details about the technical devices from which the student connects. All of this information can be used to improve teaching, for example by monitoring student engagement or identifying difficulties, but at the same time it represents sensitive data whose leakage can have serious consequences.

One of the most important challenges is the issue of information: students must be clearly informed about what data is being collected and for what purpose. For example, if the time of login to the system is recorded, students need to know whether this will be used exclusively for analytical purposes (e.g. improving the user experience) or also for assessing participation. An example of good practice is the use of anonymous surveys to collect data on satisfaction with the teaching, while protecting the personal identity of the student.

It is also necessary to clearly define who has access to the data. As a rule, these are authorized teachers and system administrators, while only anonymized data is used for research purposes. A bad practice would be to share student results with third parties without the knowledge and consent of the students, which would be a violation of ethical and legal norms (e.g. GDPR).

Secure storage and use of data requires a combination of technical and organizational measures: encryption, regular backups, multi-factor authentication, but also educating teachers not to send sensitive information through unprotected channels. An example of good practice is the use of the university's AAI@EduHr identity verification system, which reduces the risk of unauthorized access.

Therefore, privacy protection in e-learning is not only a matter of meeting legal requirements, but also of creating a culture of trust. Students who know that their data is secure are more likely to embrace the digital environment and participate more actively in learning.