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With many students forced to trade in-person lectures for online learning during the pandemic and the rising cases of academic misconduct, students, as well as professors, are concerned about the software being used to assess them. The vice-president of the University of Alberta Students’ Union (UMSU) says black students have had problems where the application doesn't recognize their faces. Other students with disabilities reported that they rely on specific screen-reader software that is incompatible with remote proctoring software. Although professors recognize that some courses may require e-proctored exams, they want them to be implemented correctly.

As schools and universities move to online instruction, the new software Turnitin Originality is designed to support academic integrity by providing tools to students to self-check and correct themselves, and for professors to identify potential misconduct so that they can intervene. When reviewing submissions, Turnitin Originality checks whether the work is similar to other known text, or if there are indications that it was not written by the student. This data will facilitate conversations between instructors and students about how to discover and express their authentic voice.

Australian universities plan to monitor students through software like Proctorio or ProctorU as they take exams from home during the coronavirus pandemic. Both platforms require students to grant access to their computer’s webcam, microphone, and keystrokes to prevent cheating. Students and academics are concerned about the lack of full transparency about where data is stored, who can access it, and whether it complies with current Australian regulations.

According to academic integrity experts, online exams provide better access to information about student behaviour and are much more secure. Examiners can remotely access student computers to check for duplicates or unauthorized software. Impersonation is prevented by technology that recognizes students' faces and typing styles, while artificial intelligence is used to detect shadows that betray other people hidden in the room.

Media have reported allegations of creative cheating strategies at universities across Canada, including hacking grades, bribery and breaking into offices to steal exams. A survey conducted at 11 Canadian higher institutions showed that 50 per cent of undergraduate students have committed some form of academic misconduct.

Media reports indicate that in various parts of the country officers claim they can obtain degrees from recognized universities for students without attending courses or taking exams. In response to this, the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has ordered University Grants Commission (UGC) to constitute a high-level committee to enquire into the allegations regarding the sale of fake degrees by certain universities.