2. The Kotnet policy
Kotnet and KULeuven as a whole is responsible for monitoring network use. Every student of the KUL is allowed to use Kotnet for assistance during their study and leisure. But the over-burdening of the network due to irregular use is not permitted. Kotnet remains polite the first time they discover inappropriate use by asking users to change behavior, but if it goes beyond all bounds, a specific sanction like network banning is possible. The basic premise is that all KUL students have free access to the network,. but users may not hamper other users. So, there is a certain network control, but not necessarily of the content, it all depends on the situation and the kind of abuse. Kotnet wants to resolve any contravention internally, and any LUDIT intervention is both explanatory and discrete. (TOP)
The restrictions for the
use of Kotnet are twofold; namely legal and ethical limitations. MP3
for example is not illegal as such, but it all boils down to the same thing:
whether the artistic product is protected by copyright or not. Videos, movies
and books are also legally protected, which is why downloading and exchanging
such digital data via the Internet and Kotnet is prohibited.
Although professional, semantic and artistic interpretations are possible, unethical
information is strictly forbidden by Kotnet as they are legally required to
do. Access to material representing, child abuse, child pornography and racism
is forbidden for any Kotnet user. To conclude, MP3 and eroticism are aspects
of reality, it is human to enjoy the forbidden and to try to get something for
nothing. Because the law is unclear on the borderline between criminal offences
and guidelines, access is not forbidden for the users of Kotnet as long as the
current legal and ethical aspects are respected. (TOP)
The question of privacy often rises because Kotnet users have to login before being able to navigate on the Internet. Indeed, this login is a tracking system for which by each individual identifiably responsible for certain network traffic. No violation of privacy is practiced by Ludit, all Internet providers are ethically bound not to abuse their position of control but to ensure professional confidentiality. Although close monitoring of kotnet users is possible, it is not only unethical, it is also impractical as the staffing required is not budgeted for. (TOP) (BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE) (HOMEPAGE)