Ethical issues and approach in e-learning

The secure storage and use of student data is the foundation of ethical and legal e-learning. Technical and organizational measures must be in place to prevent leakage, loss, or unauthorized access.

Technical measures include data encryption, backups, regular software updates, and password protection. An example of good practice is when an institution uses two-factor authentication for teachers and administrators, which reduces the risk of account hacking. Another example is the use of secure servers in the European Union, which ensures compliance with the GDPR (we are talking about situations where some educational services are purchased by HEI from external providers).

Organizational measures include education of teachers and students. It is a common mistake when teachers share student data via email without encryption or when students use simple passwords. Education on digital security helps to reduce these risks.

The use of data must be proportionate and purposeful. If a teacher wants to analyze student engagement, they can use aggregated data on time spent in the system, but not detailed data on each individual session. Also, lecture recordings should only be used for learning purposes, not for disciplinary measures without the knowledge of the students.

Therefore, data security is not only a technical issue, but also a question of a responsible culture of use. When students know that their data is stored and used securely, their trust in the institution and willingness to use digital tools increases.