Recently, Stony Brook University has engaged in a contract with HonorLock for the purposes of a “less invasive” digital test proctoring alternative to services like Respondus. The University believes that HonorLock met criterias for a new service that would prioritize student privacy as well as test security. 

HONORLOCK IS NOT A SOFTWARE THAT VALUES PRIVACY. 

HonorLock is a Chrome extension that works by recording screens, webcams, and microphones. Prior to each test, like Respondus, pictures of face and ID are taken. Unlike Respondus, which required a camera pan of the general vicinity, HONORLOCK RECORDS THE ENTIRE ROOM BEFORE EVERY TEST. This is a huge privacy problem for many students who either don't have the room to themselves, or have things inside the room that they would rather not have recorded at all.

The most glaring aspect of HonorLock is that it has access to your ENTIRE SCREEN - BACKGROUND INCLUDED.  HonorLock can see private messages that may pop up during an exam or see your desktop and the apps on it.  This is something that Respondus did not require.  It is also a very serious invasion of privacy - most people's computers are some of their most private collections of information.

As opposed to Respondus, HonorLock is a Chrome extension, meaning that with a simple update to the extension code it can easily log browser history or cookies. Respondus, being an isolated app, did not have access to those materials. 

Some students have attempted to limit HonorLock's access to their information by only allowing it to run on testing-related websites.  HonorLock, however, will not run unless allowed on ALL SITES. 

Most students using HonorLock will likely keep the extension on their computers for future convenience. This could leave much of their private data potentially compromised and recorded by yet another corporation. 

HonorLock is also extremely inconvenient.  HonorLock has been accused by many people in the university of crashing their computers or severely slowing them down.  

If Respondus was able to achieve the goal of proctoring without screen recording and without access to other browsing resources, there is NO REASON why the university should need software that does need those things. Stony Brook should STOP THE USE OF HONORLOCK IMMEDIATELY, AND WORK TO MOVE BACK TO RESPONDUS.