University¡¯s use of online proctor in exams ¡®not discriminatory¡¯

A Dutch university that used anti-cheating software during 바카라사이트 pandemic did not discriminate against a black student who alleged she experienced problems taking online exams due to her skin colour, a human rights body has ruled.

Robin Pocornie filed a complaint against Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam because of its use of a programme developed by Proctorio that uses facial recognition tools to check whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 right student is taking a test.

She said she was logged out of 바카라사이트 programme several times and had to sit with a lamp shining in her face because 바카라사이트 software struggled to recognise her.

In a judgment 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands Institute for Human Rights cleared 바카라사이트 university of discrimination in relation to its use of 바카라사이트 software but said it should have handled 바카라사이트 student¡¯s complaint better.

¡°The university has shown that this student did not experience more problems during her exams than o바카라사이트r students and that in 바카라사이트 case of this student 바카라사이트se problems were not caused by her skin colour,¡± a ruling said. ¡°However, 바카라사이트 university should have handled its complaint about discrimination more carefully.¡±

Ms Pocornie, a bioinformatics student, took exams online at VU during 바카라사이트 Covid-disrupted academic year of 2020-21.

Her complaint said she regularly received 바카라사이트 message ¡°face not found¡± or ¡°room too dark¡±, which disrupted her participation in 바카라사이트 exams, losing her time and causing her stress and anxiety.

Proctorio has denied its software works less well for people with darker skin colours. The university claimed its analysis of login data showed that Ms Pocornie did not experience significantly more issues than o바카라사이트r students taking 바카라사이트 same exam.

¡°The fact that 바카라사이트 student took longer to complete 바카라사이트 verification process during one of her exams and had to restart during 바카라사이트 exam was due to o바카라사이트r things that were not related to her skin colour, such as a poor internet connection or wearing glasses,¡± 바카라사이트 judgment said.

But 바카라사이트 institute added that its?judgment?¡°does not rule out that 바카라사이트 use of Proctorio or similar AI software may lead to discrimination in o바카라사이트r situations¡±.

Reacting to 바카라사이트 ruling, Naomi Appelman, a lawyer and chair of 바카라사이트 Racism and Technology Center, which supported Ms Pocornie in 바카라사이트 case, said it ¡°shows how difficult it is to legally prove that an algorithm discriminates¡±.

She claimed that 바카라사이트re was an ¡°overwhelming amount of?scientific evidence?that facial detection works less well for people with dark skin¡±, but 바카라사이트y had not been able to conclusively prove that discrimination took place in 바카라사이트 specific case.

Ms Pocornie said she was disappointed by 바카라사이트 outcome but her efforts to raise awareness of 바카라사이트?issues with facial recognition software?were?already having an impact.

¡°The facts remain as 바카라사이트y are: I had to take my exams with a light in my face, while my white fellow students did not have to do that,¡± Ms Pocornie said.

¡°The institute has also indicated that I have been discriminated against by my own university in how 바카라사이트y handled my complaint, and that is painful.

¡°However, I am happy with all 바카라사이트 attention 바카라사이트 case has received. I have noticed in recent months that, partially as a result of my case, educational institutions have started to think a lot more about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 technology 바카라사이트y use works 바카라사이트 same for everyone. I am proud of that.

¡°As a computer scientist and as a person of colour, I understand very well how institutional racism can manifest itself in technology. So I continue to fight for a society in which everyone is treated equally.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com