Greens: Melbourne Uni must apologise for privacy law breach, end crackdown on Palestine protestors
Greens: Melbourne Uni must apologise for privacy law breach, end crackdown on Palestine protestors | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Greens: Melbourne Uni must apologise for privacy law breach, end crackdown on Palestine protestors 2025-08-21 Greens Deputy Leader and Higher Education Spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has strongly condemned the University of Melbourne following findings by the Victorian Privacy and Data Protection deputy commissioner that the university unlawfully surveilled students and staff during a pro-Palestine protest by using Wi-Fi location data.
The deputy commissioner found that because “the collection and use of the data involved the surveillance of students and staff, and surveillance by its nature is antithetical to human rights, the breach was serious". The University of Melbourne has maintained that its use of Wi-Fi location data was reasonable “given the overriding need to keep our community safe”.
Lines attributable to Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for Higher Education: “The University of Melbourne has doubled down on unlawful surveillance and failed to apologise for its serious breach of privacy. “Universities should nurture critical thought, dissent and protest. Surveillance is the tool of authoritarian states, not places of learning.
“Using Wi-Fi tracking, CCTV footage and email monitoring against students and staff is a profound betrayal of trust. A university that spies on its students has lost its moral compass. “Universities should defend free expression, not police it.
When a university treats protest as a crime, it betrays its own purpose. “The University of Melbourne’s claim that the surveillance was justified to ensure community safety is a harmful narrative designed to smear protestors. The real threat to safety is Israel’s genocide in Gaza — and yet the University continues to maintain links with weapons companies fuelling that genocide.” “Instead of doubling down on this punitive response—one which has already harmed students and staff—the University must offer an unconditional public apology, reverse all disciplinary actions against pro-Palestine protestors, end ties to weapons companies and immediately commit to transparent policy reform that respects privacy, academic freedom, and the right to protest.” MEDIA CONTACTS FARUQI: Lauren Skinner – 0474 437 111 Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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