Professors need to develop alternative ways of testing that don’t require the use of a proctoring software.

Respondus Lockdown Browser (RLB) is a remote proctoring software that is used to monitor students during exams. Although it advertises itself as safe and non-invasive, RLB is in fact an invasion of privacy and has more drawbacks than benefits.

• RLB is easy to bypass. There are countless methods shown online of how to bypass the proctoring requirements, and more are discovered every day. Therefore, claiming the software creates a "level playing field" simply means that it makes those who bypass the requirements more successful during the exam.
• RLB is essentially legalized malware/spyware. If any other program required the same permissions as RLB, it would be flagged as malware. For example, RLB requires access to the webcam and microphone, and records everything to be sent to an external server. Furthermore, it controls the computer with administrative privileges. For a closed source proprietary software, a user may not wish to give it administrative access. But RLB does not give them a choice. A student should be able to choose whether or not they choose to install software on a computer. Some other highly insecure aspects of the software include:
  • Modification of registry entries
  • Kernel level access
  • Full Read/Write access to OS
  • Control of IO devices
  • Forceful termination of background processes
• RLB discriminates against Linux users. The only clients available are for Windows and Mac platforms. UAH is a technical university. With a non-insignificant portion of UAH users using Linux, it forces them to buy or borrow a computer that will support RLB.
• Teachers use RLB as a crutch to make exams easier to write. A good teacher will write their exams in a way that requires the student to use their knowledge to solve a problem, instead of simply reciting off a memorized formula. Alternative methods I have seen  include replacing exams with project-based assignments and take-home problems. Where a closed resource exam makes a student memorize information to pass, open resource exams more closely simulate the real world, making a student apply their skills to a task. Closed resource exams are an outdated method of determining how well a student can apply the information they've learned. Furthermore, in the age of information, a student should receive credit for not only knowing how to use the information, but also how to find it.
• RLB is an invasion of privacy. Some teachers require the student to use their webcam to scan their surroundings, to ensure that the student does not have any resources near them. This is a complete invasion of privacy. Furthermore, students can be flagged for cheating simply by looking away from the screen, or due to background noise. This means that a student can be flagged for cheating due to a roommate talking in the other room. This causes additional unneeded stress on a student who is simply trying to pass an exam.

This is not the first petition to ban the use of lockdown browser. A simple online search shows countless other petitions:

https://thefulcrum.ca/opinions/editorial-implementing-respondus-is-a-flawed-and-lethargic-solution-to-curbing-academic-fraud/​

https://thefulcrum.ca/sciencetech/u-of-o-will-allow-professors-to-use-controversial-respondus-lockdown-browser-to-curb-academic-fraud/​

https://www.change.org/p/university-of-massachusetts-boston-put-an-end-to-proctored-exams-at-umass-boston​

https://theeyeopener.com/2020/10/students-demand-ryerson-ban-proctoring-software/​

https://www.change.org/p/collegeboard-end-the-use-of-respondus-lockdown-browser-in-collegeboard-exams​

https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/university_of_belize_administration_ub_students_against_the_usage_of_lockdown_browserrespondus_monitor

To the faculty of UAH: Please stop the use of RLB and other similar software for exams.