An orange and white eye with a green background

Exam Taker Privacy Policy

  1. Content

Welcome to Zero Cheating. This Exam Taker Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our online service designed to prevent and detect cheating during online assessments ("the Service"). Please read this Privacy Policy carefully.

By accessing and using our Service, you agree to the collection and use of your information in accordance with this Exam Taker Privacy Policy.

  1. Definitions

In this Exam Taker Privacy Notice, the following terms shall have the meanings set out below:

  1. "Zero Cheating" refers to the online service and platform provided by ZeroCheating Inc designed to prevent and detect cheating during online assessments.
  2. "Service" refers to the Zero Cheating platform, including its technologies for exam proctoring, academic integrity monitoring, identity verification, and related functionalities used by educational institutions during assessment sessions.
  3. "Institution" refers to the educational institution or organization that has implemented the Zero Cheating service for the purpose of maintaining academic integrity during online assessments.
  4. "Assessment Sessions" refers to the designated time periods during which students complete online exams or assessments monitored through the Zero Cheating service, including exam proctoring, identity verification, and integrity monitoring.
  5. "Recorded Data" refers to data collected during assessment sessions through the Zero Cheating service. This may include audio recordings, video footage, screen activity, device metadata, authentication logs, and biometric data (such as facial images used for identity verification). Recorded Data is collected solely for exam security, identity verification, and academic integrity monitoring, and is processed in accordance with institutional policies and applicable data protection laws.
  1. Data Collection

Zero Cheating may collect and process the following types of information as required for identity verification and exam integrity purposes.

  • Personal information such as name, email address, institution, and student ID.
  • Technical information including IP address, device type, browser metadata, and system logs.
  • Exam monitoring data including webcam footage, screen recordings, and audio captured during an exam session.
  • Biometric data such as facial images may be processed for identity verification if required by the institution.
  • Behavioral and environmental data such as peripheral input interactions, device engagement patterns, and object detection data as part of exam integrity monitoring.

Data collection is conducted on behalf of educational institutions, and Zero Cheating acts as a service provider under their direction in accordance with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) guidelines. Institutions define data retention and processing policies, and students should refer to their institution’s policies for further details. If biometric data, including facial images, is collected for identity verification, students will be informed before collection and provided with options in accordance with applicable GDPR regulations where required.

  1. Use of Information

The information we collect is used to provide and maintain our Service, enhance exam security, and refine our academic integrity monitoring capabilities.

    1. Provide and Improve the Service: We use your information to provide and maintain our Service, enhance user experience, and improve the effectiveness of our cheating detection and prevention tools.
    2. User Support: We use your information to respond to customer service requests, provide support, and address technical issues.
    3. Research and Development: We use your information to understand user behavior, improve our algorithms, and develop new features and functionalities.
    4. Legal Compliance: We use your information to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and protect our rights or those of others.
    5. Communication: We use your information to communicate with you, including responding to your inquiries, providing technical support, and sending service-related communications.
  • Academic Integrity Purposes:  We use your data to ensure exam taker identity and confirm that all actions and materials are in accordance with exam policies. This processing is conducted under agreements with educational institutions in compliance with FERPA and applicable data protection laws. In cases where biometric authentication is required, Zero Cheating ensures compliance with GDPR by obtaining user consent where necessary.
  1. Disclosure of Information

We may disclose your information under the following circumstances:

  1. With Institutions: We may share your information with the institution administering your exam for the purpose of verifying identity, conducting assessments, evaluating student performance, and ensuring academic integrity. Data is processed strictly under the institution’s direction in compliance with FERPA. Biometric or other personally identifiable data will not be used for any purpose outside of exam security and authentication requirements set by the institution.
  2. For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information where we believe it's necessary to comply with a legal obligation or in connection with a legal claim, to protect our rights, or the rights of others.
  3. In Business Transfers: In connection with a business deal (or potential business deal) such as a merger, acquisition, consolidation, sale of assets, or in the unlikely event of bankruptcy, information about our users may be among the transferred assets.
  1. User Conduct

As a user of our Service, you are expected to adhere to the following guidelines to maintain a fair and secure assessment environment:

  • Authentication: You must provide valid identification as required by your Institution to verify your identity before beginning an assessment.
  • Environment: Ensure that your testing area is quiet, well-lit, and free from unauthorized materials or individuals. You may be required to perform a room scan to confirm compliance.
  • Behavior: During the assessment, refrain from engaging in any form of misconduct, including but not limited to:
    • Using unauthorized resources or devices.
    • Communicating with others.
    • Attempting to access external websites or applications unless expressly permitted.
  • Technical Requirements: Use a functioning computer with a reliable internet connection, compatible browser, and necessary peripherals such as a webcam and microphone.
  • Compliance: Follow all instructions provided by the proctoring software and any additional guidelines set forth by your Institution.

Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in penalties as per your Institution's academic policies. For detailed user conduct guidelines, please refer to your Institution's academic integrity policy or code of conduct.

  1. Exam Taker's Responsibilities

As an exam taker using our Service, you are expected to adhere to certain responsibilities. These responsibilities are outlined in this section.

  1. Special Accommodations

Zero Cheating is committed to providing equal opportunities for all exam takers. If you require special accommodations, please reach out to the relevant authority at your Institution.

  1. Legal Compliance & Student Rights

Zero Cheating follows applicable data protection laws, including FERPA in the United States, GDPR in the European Union, and NIST 800-53 security standards.

FERPA Compliance

Zero Cheating operates as a service provider on behalf of educational institutions and does not control student data. Students have the right to access their data and request corrections or deletions through their institution in accordance with FERPA. Institutions determine data retention and deletion policies for all exam recordings and biometric data.

GDPR Compliance

For European students, Zero Cheating ensures that all data processing complies with GDPR requirements. Biometric data, such as facial recognition for identity verification, is only processed with explicit consent where required by law. Students may request access, correction, or deletion of their data by contacting [email protected].

NIST 800-53 Compliance

Zero Cheating follows NIST 800-53 security controls by implementing strict access controls, encryption, and continuous monitoring. All data in transit is encrypted using TLS 1.2+, and all data at rest is secured using AES-256 encryption. Access to exam monitoring data is restricted to authorized institutional personnel only.

  1. Governing Law

This Exam Taker Privacy Policy and your use of the Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Florida.

  1. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Exam Taker Privacy Policy at any time. All updates will be posted on this page. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any modification to the Exam Taker Privacy Policy will be deemed to be your agreement to the changed terms.

  1. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill institutional exam security requirements. Exam session data, including biometric data if collected, is stored for 30 days unless otherwise requested by the institution. Students should refer to their institution’s retention policies for specific guidelines on data storage and deletion. Requests for data deletion must be submitted to the institution or to Zero Cheating at [email protected], and will be processed in compliance with applicable FERPA and GDPR regulations.

  1. Data Security

We understand the importance of your privacy and maintain security measures to protect your personal information and Recorded Data. These measures include data encryption, secure servers, and other technical and organizational measures. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

  1. Children’s Privacy

Our Service is not directed towards children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under 13 without obtaining parental consent in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If we learn that we have collected information from a child under the age of 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information as quickly as possible.

 

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or if you would like to exercise your rights and choices, please email us at [email protected].