The Education Executive Agency (DUO), whose headquarters are in Groningen, allegedly used prohibited tracking software in emails to students, according to reporting by De Volkskrant.
When students opened an email from DUO, the student financial aid organisation used tracking software to download a tiny image which registered the IP address. DUO reportedly wanted to be able to use the information to prove in court that a student had received an important e-mail, which occasionally caused problems when a student’s personal situation changed in any way.
De Volkskrant reports that the use of such tracking software is contrary to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR/AVG). DUO has indicated that they have entered into discussions with the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens) and that they will suspend the practice for the time being.
