THIS IS ONLY A TEST

An Ethical Case Study

PRESENTATION BY
Maheen – s4662991,  
Phalak - s4645486
  1.  Case Study
    1.1.  Overview of Case Study
 2. Ethical Issues
    2.1. What is Ethical Issue?
    2.2. Be Fair and Take Action not to Discriminate
    2.3. Avoid Harm
    2.4. Respect Privacy 
 3. Privacy Issues
CONTENTS     3.1. What is Privacy Issue?
    3.2. Misuse of Images
    3.3. Access to Personal Devices
 4. Social Issues
    4.1. What is Social Issue?
    4.2. False Results
    4.3. Damage to Student-Teacher Relationship
 5. References
1.1. Overview of Case Study

 - As the pandemic halted in-person learning, many colleges and universities turned to
online teaching. Professors started using Proctoring software to caught cheating during
tests. 
 - Using these software became very profitable for companies selling such
products, however, many students, professors raised concern about the variety of problems
with the products, including concerns about bias in face detection.
 - Many companies tried to address some of its problems. For example, one company hired
an ethical tech to help in identify and address possible source of bias in the system. 
 - One of the firms will also roll out a new interface "that warns against using certain
settings unless absolutely essential. For example, a room recording option, it may increase
test taker anxiety and should be turned on when necessary. 
 - However, Many universities have stopped using such software. Such software can be
justified during pandemic but not anymore.
2.1. What is Ethical Issue?

Ethical Issues according to ACS and ACM code of

Ethics:

- Be Fair and Take Action not to Discriminate

- Avoid Harm 

- Respect Privacy
2.2. Be Fair and Take Action not to Discriminate

- This principle concerns the values of equality,

tolerance, respect for others, and justice.

- Face detection software are bias in recognition.

- Student can be discriminated based upon skin color.

2.3. Avoid Harm

- Harm means negative consequences. 

- For example, physical or mental injury. 

- Proctoring Software is having negative impact

on students. Students are mentally affected. As
they feel anxiety and stress.
 2.4. Respect Privacy

- Only the minimum amount of personal

information necessary should be collected in a
system.

- Facial images of Students are being collected. 

- Some Students may not be in favor of that.

3.1. What is Privacy Issue?

Some of privacy issues in this case are:

- Misuse of Facial Images.

- Data Vulnerability.

- Access to personal devices.

 3.2. Misuse of Images

- data breach of facial images increases the

potential of identity theft, harassment. 

- The facial images collected through proctoring

software can be misused in either way. 
3.3. Access to Personal Devices

- Allowing third-party software results in access

to private devices. 

- This means, the students are giving the

permission to access to their personal files,
monitor their keystrokes and analyze their
biometrics.
4.1. What is Social Issue?

Social Issues in this case are:

- Errors can implicate innocent students

- Bias in facial recognition

- Damage to Student - Teacher Relationship

 4.2. False Results

- Facial recognition software cannot be always

right.

- It can give false positive result sometimes due

to some angle or difference in lighting.

- False Results can implicate innocent students

of cheating.
4.3. Damage to Student – Teacher Relationship

- the tools do not directly identify

cheaters, sometimes innocents could be caught. 

- This could affect the student – teacher

relationship. 
5. References

 - University, S., 2022. This is Only a Test. [online] Scu.edu. Available at:

<https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/internet-ethics/resources/this-is-only-a-test/> [Accessed
13 June 2022].
 - Monitor, T., 2022. Online exams raise concerns of racial bias in facial recognition. [online]
The Christian Science Monitor. Available at:
<https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2020/1117/Online-exams-raise-concerns-of-racial-
bias-in-facial-recognition> [Accessed 13 June 2022].
 - Acm.org. 2022. [online] Available at: <https://www.acm.org/binaries/content/assets/about/acm-
code-of-ethics-booklet.pdf> [Accessed 13 June 2022].
 - Science in the News. 2022. Racial Discrimination in Face Recognition Technology - Science in
the News. [online] Available at: <https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2020/racial-discrimination-
in-face-recognition-technology/> [Accessed 13 June 2022].