THE University of Sydney has provided confidential student information to law enforcement officials without demanding a warrant, subpoena or even an explanation.

Documents show university officials were willing to supply the details based on little more than emails or faxes from officers that stated they wanted the information. Twenty requests for information related to criminal matters have been received by the university since 2004, according to documents obtained under freedom of information laws.

The agencies involved include NSW Police, the Crime Commission and the Australian Federal Police. There are exemptions under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 for law enforcement organisations but civil libertarians say these agencies should be obtaining subpoenas and warrants before demanding private information from universities.