The UT does not clamp down on computer criminals on the campusnet. 'It is unfeasible in practice to check the content of all data traffic', is the official position. 'Also we would not like to see Big Brother on campus.' But copyright watchdog Stichting Brein (Foundation Brain) calls the university to account on its 'responsibility to society'.
St. Brein compares computer criminality on campus with 'trading stolen cars in the university shop'. Network manager Gert Meijerink of the CIV says that the university cannot be held responsible for the behaviour of the users on the digital highway. 'The university has put stop signs on the road.' By this he means the regulations that every campusnet user gets when he starts using his connection. But Meijerink feels that when someone breaks the law on the net, by copying films and software on a large scale, it is wrong. 'But who are we to proceed against such a person? That is what the police are for.'
'Nice and easy', Tim Kuik, director of St. Brein judges. 'The UT sticks its head in the sand. As university you have a responsibility to society. The UT has future ICT-opinion leaders within its walls. It is an educational task to teach those students values in this area. Piracy does not belong there.'
