In October last year, RTL news showed that Proctorio’s software, used to check if students aren’t cheating during online exams, works less for students of colour. Five months later, RTL asked the twelve Dutch educational institutions on Proctorio’s client list whether they were still using the tool. Eight say they still do.
In the RTL piece, our Naomi Appelman calls this behaviour incomprehensible and reckless:
There is sufficient evidence that something is wrong. These public institutions accept that students of colour may not be able to follow their education as well as other students. That is problematic. We want them to take responsibility, and the awareness should sink in that significant risks are involved.
The Dutch Institute of Human Rights agrees:
It is unfortunate that so few educational institutions consider that this type of software can discriminate because this remains a valid concern. Educational institutions are obligated to prevent discrimination. During the COVID-19 pandemic, exam software such as Proctorio was widely used to conduct exams. Now that this time is behind us, it is up to educational institutions to reconsider the use in light of the current knowledge and assess whether it is necessary to continue with it.
Kudos to Radboud University for listing the potential for discrimination as one of the reasons for quitting Proctorio. Let them be an example for the others.
See: Hoger onderwijs blijft software inzetten die zwarte studenten minder herkent at RTL Nieuws.
Image from the original RTL Nieuws article.