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    Audit: 4 EVC Office Phones Had 'Barge-in' Feature; Use Unknown


    The University of California auditor on May 6 issued a report titled "Investigation Into Allegations Concerning UCSB Executive Vice Chancellor's Information Privacy and Security."
    The report followed a 10-month investigation originally requested by Executive Vice Chancellor Ilene Nagel following her suspicions that certain of her private conversations were being intercepted.
    During the course of the investigation, four departmental office computers were detained for a brief period, but then returned without their content having been examined. The detention of the computers spawned another investigation into whether the computers were detained in accordance with the University's Electronics and Communications Policy. That investigation is still underway.
    The UC auditor's report included the following findings:
    Telephone capabilities: Four telephones within the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor the Office of Academic Personnel were programmed with a telephone feature known as "Barge-in," which enabled those phones to be used to join in without announcement on any telephone call taking place within the departmental system's 18 phones. These features were reported to UCSB Communications Services in April of last year and were disabled.
    All 18 phones in the department were also equipped to allow persons, with the appropriate program knowledge, to listen in to other office conversations through the phone's intercom feature.
    Other findings: The auditors were unable to determine who had ordered the Barge-in feature to be programmed or when. The auditors were unable to determine whether anyone actually used or misused either telephone capability.
    "We deeply regret any harm or perceived harm to the campus and to any of the affected staff that has resulted from this investigation," said UC Senior Vice President for Business and Finance Joseph P. Mullinix.
    "As a result of these findings, we are taking steps to ensure both that campus personnel become familiar with all of their phone features and that privacy on the campus is better protected," Mullinix added. "This has been a difficult matter for all concerned, and we appreciate that everyone acted with patience and professionalism. We hope those affected will now be able to put this matter behind them."
    Chancellor Henry T. Yang issued a statement thanking the UC Office of the President for the attention and expertise it devoted to the inquiry.
    "We take issues of privacy very seriously on this campus," he said. "When questions were raised suggesting that the security of our private telephone lines might have been compromised, this campus and the UC Office of the President took all appropriate steps to thoroughly investigate the matter.
    "Let me express my sincere appreciation to all members of the UCSB community for the patience and understanding they have demonstrated while this review was being conducted."