Lockdown Browser
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2016 |
| Product Type | Software, Web browser |
| In Production | No |
| Official Website | https://web.respondus.com/he/lockdownbrowser/ |
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Lockdown Browser, or LockDown Browser, is a custom web browser that locks down a student's computer during an exam, it often is integrated with learning management systems, such as Canvas, Schoology, etc.[1] The first documented version released in 2016[2], and it grew in relevance during and after the Covid-19 Lock-downs[3].
Lockdown Browser integrates with Respondus Monitor. The former is mainly responsible for preventing students to access their computer during exams, and the latter is mainly responsible for monitoring the students during examinations. The restriction of access include disabling of browser toolbar, windows feature (such as print screen, accessing computer's tool bar), the ability to exit the application, the ability to power off the computer, keyboard functions, and more.[1]
Impact-Summary
Student Privacy
According the Respondus's Privacy Policy[4], LockDown Browser access many private information depending on institutional policies, such as using facial recognition, "internet and network activity information," screen captures, and etc. Researchers had softwares like Lockdown Browser to be "invasive monitoring tools" and surveyed privacy concerns amongst students[5]. Further, in Ogletree v. Cleveland State University[6], the U.S. District Court concluded the following:
Based on consideration of these factors, individually and collectively, the Court concludes that Mr. Ogletree’s privacy interest in his home outweighs Cleveland State’s interests in scanning his room. Accordingly, the Court determines that Cleveland State’s practice of conducting room scans is unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment.
In response to the ruling, Respondus official statement[7] updated its own privacy policy and terms of use, such as the following:
Respondus has taken several steps to help universities strengthen their online testing policies. First, it has added the following paragraph to the boilerplate text that universities often use for their portion of the Student Terms of Use for Respondus Monitor.
If your institution or instructor permits you to use Respondus Monitor at a non-university location, you agree to select a location that meets any and all university guidelines. If the location you choose is a home or personal environment, you agree to allow your activity and surrounding workspace to be recorded by video and audio and then analyzed by the Respondus Monitor system.
Similar text has been added to the Terms of Use section that is between Respondus and the student:
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.
Incidents
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Lockdown Browser category.
Example incident one (date)
- Main article: link to the main CR Wiki article
Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
Example incident two (date)
...
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "LockDown Browser Resources". Respondus.com. 2026-06-17. Archived from the original on 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
- ↑ "LockDown Browser Version History". Respondus.com. 2020-11-29. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
- ↑ "Google Trend - Searches on LockDown Browser".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Privacy Center". Respondus.com. 2025-09-12. Archived from the original on 2026-05-30. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
- ↑ Balash, D. G., Kim, D., Shaibekova, D., Fainchtein, R. A., Sherr, M., & Aviv, A. J. (2021, June 10). Examining the Examiners: Students’ Privacy and Security Perceptions of Online Proctoring Services. ArXiv.org. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2106.05917
- ↑ [web.respondus.com/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/Doc-50-Amended-Opinion-and-Order-Ogletree.pdf. "Ogletree v. Cleaveland State University"].
{{cite web}}:|archive-url=requires|archive-date=(help); Check|url=value (help) - ↑ "Our Take on the Ogletree Ruling". 2023-02-14. Archived from the original on 2025-08-11. Retrieved 2026-06-17.