The Student Loans Company has been accused of violating the privacy of vulnerable students by spying on their social media accounts as part of an anti-fraud campaign. Specifically, the company asked 150 estranged students, who are considered vulnerable because they have no relationship with their parents and may be financially challenged, to furnish proof that they had no contact with their families. If any of the students failed to respond with the required evidence within 28 days, their funding was terminated, and some of them had their social media accounts monitored in an attempt to find evidence of contact with their families. Reports indicate that 81 of the 150 students had their financing rescinded, though the figure has since declined as some cases have been concluded. The charity Stand Alone, among other advocates, has criticised the exercise, alleging that it has disproportionately affected vulnerable students, many of whom have mental health problems.
Stand Alone CEO Becca Bland stated that the anti-fraud campaign was short-sighted and heavy-handed. She added that the actions taken by the SLC could lead to student poverty and homelessness while undermining the mental health of the affected individuals. Bland went on to say that while she understood the need to combat fraud in academic institutions, the peculiarities of estranged individuals must be taken into account in such processes. She noted that estranged students frequently suffer financial difficulties due to a lack of family support and sometimes struggle with mental health issues related to abuse, neglect, rejection, or experiences within the care system. Bland further stated that it is fundamentally flawed and unacceptable for a financial institution to terminate a vulnerable student’s fee or grant loan before determining if the student is guilty of fraud.
One affected student, 20-year-old James Smith, alleges that he had quit his studies after his funding was suspended following the fraud investigation. He denies any charges of fraudulent behaviour and claims that he was treated like a criminal. Smith says that SLC officials scoured his Facebook account looking for signs of contact with his family and made an incorrect conclusion after finding a five or six-word post. He says that he was left with no choice but to drop out of Salford University, where he was pursuing a degree in zoology and fulfilling his ambition of opening an animal sanctuary. Smith says that the invasion of his privacy and the stress of the investigation have had a profound impact on his life.
An SLC spokesperson has stated that, since the conclusion of the anti-fraud campaign, one student had all of their financing rescinded due to fraudulent activity, while five other students would no longer receive added financial support for estrangement. Three additional students stepped down from estrangement funding administration before or during the process. The spokesperson added that as many as 34 students have yet to provide evidence of estrangement and have not received their third tranche of financing. SLC urged those individuals to contact them as soon as possible to aid the company in reviewing the validity of their evidence.
The charity Stand Alone has requested an immediate review of the investigation and the reinstatement of funding for those who have had their funds suspended without any verification of fraud. The National Union of Students has also criticised the SLC, emphasising that the agency needs to communicate capably and direct students to appropriate support networks to prevent confusion.
