Lockdown Browser: Difference between revisions

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==Impact-Summary==

===Student Privacy===

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''If you are using Respondus Monitor at your home or in a personal area, you agree to allow your activity and surrounding workspace area to be recorded by video and audio and then to be analyzed by the Respondus Monitor system.''</blockquote>Others criticize that the LockDown Browser creates stress for students and fails to create academic integrity amongst privacy issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuevas |first=Heidi |date=2025-07-18 |title=Student Perspective: Lockdown browsers create anxiety, not integrity |url=https://panthernow.com/2025/06/18/lockdown-browsers-create-anxiety-not-integrity/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260316083625/https://panthernow.com/2025/06/18/lockdown-browsers-create-anxiety-not-integrity/ |archive-date=2026-03-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Margaret |date=2021-03-11 |title=Lockdown Browsers: Protecting Integrity or Invading Privacy? |url=https://cuatower.com/2021/03/lockdown-browsers-protecting-integrity-or-invading-privacy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117121331/https://cuatower.com/2021/03/lockdown-browsers-protecting-integrity-or-invading-privacy/ |archive-date=2024-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Swauger |first=Shea |date=2020-08-07 |title=Software that monitors students during tests perpetuates inequality and violates their privacy |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/08/07/1006132/software-algorithms-proctoring-online-tests-ai-ethics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260518134137/https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/08/07/1006132/software-algorithms-proctoring-online-tests-ai-ethics/ |archive-date=2026-05-18 |access-date=2026-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Sean |date=2020-12-02 |title=Lockdown Browser is bad software and should be scrapped |url=https://mytjnow.com/2020/12/02/lockdown-browser-is-bad-software-and-should-be-scrapped/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930200501/https://mytjnow.com/2020/12/02/lockdown-browser-is-bad-software-and-should-be-scrapped/ |archive-date=2022-09-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Critical Analysis of Respondus LockDown Web Browser |url=https://osuosc.org/events/2008-10-17-critical-analysis-of-respondus-lockdown-web-browser/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Jason |date=2020-08-20 |title=Proctoring Apps Subject Students to Unnecessary Surveillance |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/08/proctoring-apps-subject-students-unnecessary-surveillance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260520222519/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/08/proctoring-apps-subject-students-unnecessary-surveillance}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pham |first=Vivian |date=2021-04-30 |title=Lockdown browsers fail to create a culture of academic integrity |url=https://retriever.umbc.edu/2021/04/lockdown-browsers-fail-to-create-a-culture-of-academic-integrity-they-invade-student-privacy-and-harm-student-health/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005194426/https://retriever.umbc.edu/2021/04/lockdown-browsers-fail-to-create-a-culture-of-academic-integrity-they-invade-student-privacy-and-harm-student-health/}}</ref>

===User Freedom===

In terms of freedom, aside from browser restrictions, the decision for students to opt out of LockDown Browser lies not with Respondus but varies between institutions. The following is the Opt-Out policy from Respondus Monitor's student Terms of Use:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-15 |title=Terms of Use - Respondus Monitor (Student) |url=https://web.respondus.com/tou-monitor-student/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260123114802/https://web.respondus.com/tou-monitor-student/ |archive-date=2026-01-23}}</ref><blockquote>d. OPT-OUT. If you cease to agree with these Terms, or the privacy and security policy below at some point in the future, you may opt-out by contacting your Institution. However, opting-out may affect how you will need to complete your course, and your Institution makes no representations regarding how it will affect your relevant course or any ramifications from opt-out (e.g., you may not be able to complete the requirements of such course). As such, we encourage you to speak with your instructor before opting out.</blockquote>

===Business Models===

Respondus primarily markets LockDown Browser towards educational institutions as their direct customers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LockDown Browser - Pricing |url=https://web.respondus.com/k12/lockdownbrowser/pricing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260330061906/https://web.respondus.com/k12/lockdownbrowser/pricing/}}</ref> The end users for LockDown Browser are the students, and the surrounding monitoring tools are primarily used by test proctors, whether they be hired proctors, instructors, teaching assistants, or otherwise. However, this had led to the concern that end users are not involved in the decision process in software that may negatively impact their computer (see incident).

==Incidents==

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 ==Impact-Summary==
-{{Ph-C-CIS}}
+{{Incomplete section}}
 ===Student Privacy===
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 ''If you are using Respondus Monitor at your home or in a personal area, you agree to allow your activity and surrounding workspace area to be recorded by video and audio and then to be analyzed by the Respondus Monitor system.''</blockquote>Others criticize that the LockDown Browser creates stress for students and fails to create academic integrity amongst privacy issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuevas |first=Heidi |date=2025-07-18 |title=Student Perspective: Lockdown browsers create anxiety, not integrity |url=https://panthernow.com/2025/06/18/lockdown-browsers-create-anxiety-not-integrity/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260316083625/https://panthernow.com/2025/06/18/lockdown-browsers-create-anxiety-not-integrity/ |archive-date=2026-03-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Margaret |date=2021-03-11 |title=Lockdown Browsers: Protecting Integrity or Invading Privacy? |url=https://cuatower.com/2021/03/lockdown-browsers-protecting-integrity-or-invading-privacy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117121331/https://cuatower.com/2021/03/lockdown-browsers-protecting-integrity-or-invading-privacy/ |archive-date=2024-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Swauger |first=Shea |date=2020-08-07 |title=Software that monitors students during tests perpetuates inequality and violates their privacy |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/08/07/1006132/software-algorithms-proctoring-online-tests-ai-ethics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260518134137/https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/08/07/1006132/software-algorithms-proctoring-online-tests-ai-ethics/ |archive-date=2026-05-18 |access-date=2026-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Sean |date=2020-12-02 |title=Lockdown Browser is bad software and should be scrapped |url=https://mytjnow.com/2020/12/02/lockdown-browser-is-bad-software-and-should-be-scrapped/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930200501/https://mytjnow.com/2020/12/02/lockdown-browser-is-bad-software-and-should-be-scrapped/ |archive-date=2022-09-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Critical Analysis of Respondus LockDown Web Browser |url=https://osuosc.org/events/2008-10-17-critical-analysis-of-respondus-lockdown-web-browser/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Jason |date=2020-08-20 |title=Proctoring Apps Subject Students to Unnecessary Surveillance |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/08/proctoring-apps-subject-students-unnecessary-surveillance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260520222519/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/08/proctoring-apps-subject-students-unnecessary-surveillance}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pham |first=Vivian |date=2021-04-30 |title=Lockdown browsers fail to create a culture of academic integrity |url=https://retriever.umbc.edu/2021/04/lockdown-browsers-fail-to-create-a-culture-of-academic-integrity-they-invade-student-privacy-and-harm-student-health/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005194426/https://retriever.umbc.edu/2021/04/lockdown-browsers-fail-to-create-a-culture-of-academic-integrity-they-invade-student-privacy-and-harm-student-health/}}</ref>
+===User Freedom===
+In terms of freedom, aside from browser restrictions, the decision for students to opt out of LockDown Browser lies not with Respondus but varies between institutions. The following is the Opt-Out policy from Respondus Monitor's student Terms of Use:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-15 |title=Terms of Use - Respondus Monitor (Student) |url=https://web.respondus.com/tou-monitor-student/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260123114802/https://web.respondus.com/tou-monitor-student/ |archive-date=2026-01-23}}</ref><blockquote>d. OPT-OUT. If you cease to agree with these Terms, or the privacy and security policy below at some point in the future, you may opt-out by contacting your Institution. However, opting-out may affect how you will need to complete your course, and your Institution makes no representations regarding how it will affect your relevant course or any ramifications from opt-out (e.g., you may not be able to complete the requirements of such course). As such, we encourage you to speak with your instructor before opting out.</blockquote>
+===Business Models===
+Respondus primarily markets LockDown Browser towards educational institutions as their direct customers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LockDown Browser - Pricing |url=https://web.respondus.com/k12/lockdownbrowser/pricing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260330061906/https://web.respondus.com/k12/lockdownbrowser/pricing/}}</ref> The end users for LockDown Browser are the students, and the surrounding monitoring tools are primarily used by test proctors, whether they be hired proctors, instructors, teaching assistants, or otherwise. However, this had led to the concern that end users are not involved in the decision process in software that may negatively impact their computer (see incident).
 ==Incidents==