UC Berkeley Turns Over Personal Information of Over 150 Students and Staff to Federal Government Overview UC Berkeley disclosed personal information of approximately 160 students, staff, and faculty to the federal government. This action was taken following a directive from the UC Office of the President (UCOP) during an investigation into allegations of antisemitism on campus by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Key Details Disclosure Context: Information release was part of compliance with the OCR's extensive investigation into alleged antisemitic incidents at UC Berkeley. Notification: Affected individuals received emails from the campus Office of Legal Affairs on September 4, 2025, informing them their information had been shared with federal authorities as of August 18, 2025. Information Shared: Names and details regarding individuals’ possible associations with alleged antisemitism reports were included. Source of Information: Data was gathered from multiple campus offices, including the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD), but the exact offices and criteria for sharing were not disclosed. Concerns and Reactions A graduate student, speaking anonymously due to fear of retaliation, claimed the disclosure disproportionately targeted Muslim and Arab individuals, particularly those supportive of Palestine. Reports noted some individuals had false or open investigations with OPHD. UC Berkeley officials provided no clarity on selection criteria or data sources beyond mentioning multiple offices contributed. Other University of California campuses (UCSF, UCLA, UC Davis, UC San Diego) were also under OCR antisemitism inquiries and reportedly shared information under UCOP guidance but did not notify affected individuals. Broader Context The Education Department's investigation into UC Berkeley has been ongoing since February 2025 as part of a wider federal crackdown following 2024 pro-Palestine encampments on campuses nationwide. Department of Justice has also launched investigations into antisemitism claims. Chancellor Rich Lyons testified before Congress during the summer regarding these issues. Student and Community Impact UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) condemned the university for betraying students, accusing administrators of breaking prior assurances that student identities would remain protected. Concerns about use of shared information by the Trump administration have heightened fears among students. Some affected individuals are now seeking legal advice and reconsidering their academic research activities due to perceived risks. Official Statements UCOP and campus spokespeople have not commented on other campus compliance specifics or the guiding directive for the information release. Legal Affairs indicated that the OCR investigation remains active and further disclosures may be required. --- Tags: UC Berkeley, UC Office of the President, Office of Civil Rights, Office of Legal Affairs, Janet Gilmore Author: Aarya Mukherjee | Senior Staff Date Published: September 10, 2025 --- Affected individuals received an email Sept. 4 from the campus Office of Legal Affairs notifying them that their names and information had been released.