Santa Clara University

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 2, 2011-- Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics will receive $500,000 to promote Internet-privacy and ethics education, as part of a class-action settlement between Internet consumers and Google. 

The 24-year-old Markkula Center was chosen by presiding Judge James Ware as one of 14 groups to receive the funds, as part of the settlement’s goal of advancing the cause of Internet-privacy education.

The judge noted that Markkula, which was not a party to the class action, “is dedicated to research and dialogue on issues of practical ethics,” and “has included Internet privacy issues as one of the subjects it addresses, and is committed to expanding this program.”

 The lawsuit centered on privacy concerns, all of which have since been resolved, related to Google’s Buzz social-network product.

 “The Markkula Center is pleased that Judge Ware has recognized the value of our programs to help establish best ethical practices for the digital age,” said Kirk O. Hanson, executive director of the Center. 

The Markkula Center expects to use the funds for privacy and ethics education, such as:

*Creating a model curriculum for undergraduate students on Internet privacy, which would be promoted and made available to faculty across the country free of charge. 
*Developing a website aimed at all Internet users which identifies and discusses choices users must make regarding their own privacy online. 
*Continuing to host events focused on the Internet and ethics for Silicon Valley audiences, which will be available online as articles, podcasts or videos.

Other groups receiving funds in the $8.5 million settlement include organizations or centers from:
 

• Electronic Frontier Foundation ($1 million)
• The American Civil Liberties Union ($700,000)
• Berkeley Center for Law and Technology ($500,000)
• Harvard University ($500,000)
• Center for Democracy & Technology ($500,000)
• Stanford  University ($500,000)
• Electronic Privacy Information Center ($500,000)
• Carnegie Mellon ($350,000)
• Indiana University ($300,000)
• YMCA of Greater Long Beach ($300,000)
• Berkeley Law School ($200,000)
• Brookings Institution ($165,000)
• Youth Radio ($50,000)

About Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California’s Silicon Valley, offers its more than 8,800 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, theology, and engineering, plus master’s and law degrees and engineering Ph.D.s. Distinguished nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S. master’s universities, California’s oldest operating higher education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu.

Media Contact:
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Relations | dlohse@scu.edu | (408) 554-5121.