Key Activities
F. Schools
Human rights violation in a school caused by smartphone collection and hair policy
The Commission concluded that collecting smartphones during normal school hours and
restricting students from getting a hair perm or dyeing without consulting the students and teachers
is an infringement upon the freedom of action in general and their freedom of communication.
On April 29, it recommended the principal of the junior high school in question to revise the
related rules based on due consultation with students and teachers. It also recommended the
superintendent of education in the jurisdiction to review the hair-related regulations of all junior
high schools and high schools in the area and see that those banning hair perm and coloring be
modified.
The Commission concluded that prohibiting students from possessing or using smartphones
during normal hours, and from getting a hair perm or coloring excessively limit the general
freedom of action, freedom of communication, right to make choices, and freedom of expression
of identity.
The principal of the school and the superintendent of education accepted the recommendation
by the Commission.
Mandatory university survey on sensitive personal information
On May 8, the Commission recommended the director of a university research institute not to
force students to take a survey containing sensitive information in order to view their grades, and
to take appropriate measures to ensure that the right to make decisions on personal information
is not violated in future surveys. It also recommended the university president to see that the
petitionee and the research institute staff are properly trained on human rights and to prevent a
recurrence of similar incidents.
An investigation showed that the survey did not collect personally identifiable information such
as name, university ID, or telephone, but it did collect personal information that are protected
under the right to make decisions on personal information, i.e. information that can characterize a
student when combined with other information (such as gender, military experience, category of
admission, and college), as well as information that can characterize a student’s personality and
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