The UCD Student Union has suspended the sale of Leap Cards following concerns over the potential misuse of personal data.
The public transport discount cards are sold at campuses all over the country, however UCD Student Union president Barry Murphy has put a halt to their sale over “wholly inappropriate” management of student data.
He said:
“The personal information is viewable by way too many people and means that data can be taken and sold to third-party companies.
“That student could end up being spammed meaning there could be identity tests, if someone took a shine to how they look they could find out where they live and they can also look at a picture of them and they could end up stalking them.
“So, we just think it was wholly inappropriate and we are looking forward to working with the NTA to resolve it.”
The news comes after it was reported that there is a “serious flaw” in the Student Leap Card application system which allows agents to access personal details about students without their knowledge.
A new online application system sees students sign up for the Leap Card online and then collect it at their students’ union.
However, the application system allows agents providing the cards to access the personal details including name, home address, photo, phone number, email address, and date of birth, of all students who recently applied online for a card across the country.
A spokesman for the NTA said the authority had “worked closely with UCDSU to address their concern and have made some changes to the way in which Student Leap data is stored and processed”.
These changes are currently being tested and will be implemented in the coming days, according to the Irish Times.
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