The CDA is concerned about Dutch students' data stored on Microsoft and Amazon servers. The party fears that the storage affects student privacy or invites spying. The group wants to know from the cabinet whether there are "serious alternatives" for educational institutions not to depend on cloud solutions from U.S. technology companies.
This is according to written questions (1) by Henri Bontenbal and Harry van der Molen (both CDA) to the Secretary of State for Digitalization, Alexandra van Huffelen.
The MPs are asking the questions in response to international research. According to the researchers, the study achievements and private data of over 340,000 Dutch students (2) have been stored on Microsoft and Amazon servers. This reportedly involves the data of three-quarters of all students in our country. Research data and digital classroom systems are also stored in the cloud in the US.
Keeping the data for so many students carries risks. For starters, educational institutions are restricted in their freedom once they choose a cloud provider. Transferring data to another cloud provider is expensive and complex. Furthermore, the privacy (3) of students, faculty and researchers is at stake if their data is kept in the US. U.S. security agencies can access this information under the guise of national security. Finally, there is a potential risk of espionage.
For these problems, the researchers came up with a solution: developing open source programs in Europe. All universities would then be allowed to use the basis of this software and supplement it with their own specific functionalities. It is expensive, but the researchers are convinced that the investment will pay off in greater freedom and privacy guarantees.
The conclusions of the study prompted Henri Bontenbal and Harry van der Molen to pose a number of questions to State Secretary Van Huffelen. The CDA members want to know from the minister whether she can confirm that the data of three-quarters of Dutch students are stored with American cloud providers. "Do you share the view that this situation carries the risk of privacy violation, espionage and a loss of strategic autonomy?" the MPs ask the state secretary.
Bontenbal and Van der Molen inquire what agreements on privacy and security Dutch educational institutions make with tech companies when they enter into a contract. They want to know to what extent there is any room at all to make agreements on these aspects during negotiations.
In addition, the MPs are curious whether the Cabinet sees a role for itself to support educational institutions in negotiating with international cloud providers. "To what extent can you provide central frameworks for educational institutions that see to ensuring privacy, online security and strategic independence in the cooperation with cloud companies?"
The CDA'ers' main question is whether there are "serious alternatives" for educational institutions to using cloud solutions from American tech companies. "Are you willing to investigate whether the central government can start or support initiatives together with educational institutions that see to the development of own cloud solutions?", they want to know from State Secretary Van Huffelen. Finally, the minister must answer the question of how the government could link up with European initiatives in this regard.
VVD and SP previously asked written questions (4) about the storage of data of Dutch students by U.S. technology companies.
https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/kamervragen/detail?id=2022Z19981&did=2022D42923
https://www.vpngids.nl/nieuws/gegevens-nederlandse-studenten-massaal-opgeslagen-op-amerikaanse-servers/
https://www.vpngids.nl/privacy/devices/privacyrisicos-smart-speaker/
https://www.vpngids.nl/nieuws/vvd-bezorgd-om-opslaan-studentgegevens-op-amerikaanse-servers/
