Since online meetings, classes, and exams are the new normal now, a set of new problems have arisen. Like cyberattacks, a whopping 20 million of which took place in 2020 alone. However, for women, it’s the same old problem but through a new medium.
Female students have taken to social media to post screenshots of inappropriate texts allegedly sent by their online exams’ proctors or invigilators. These proctors are hired by a third party. In some of these cases, the proctors allegedly went to the extent of stalking students on social media and sent them texts. Have a look:
Here are some of the instances which were shared on Twitter by students.
This is what online exams have come to in the prestigious NMIMS. Absolutely disgusting behaviour by so called proctors who students cannot even see on screen. Proctors have gone to the extent of asking for social media handles and messaging students on WhatsApp. pic.twitter.com/42DGqNtHqy
— AverageIndianStudent (@AverageIndianS1) January 7, 2021
Grateful for the support I have received from friends, family and people all over the internet.
Know that if you’re being wronged, you’re not alone.
THIS IS A BREACH OF PRIVACY.
CALL. OUT. THOSE. CREEPS.@not_sahi @asmsoc_nmims @nmims_india @AverageIndianS1 @munsocmpstme pic.twitter.com/xvAp5HSaLf— Divyanshi Asnani (@divyanshi151) January 8, 2021
⚠️ONLINE HARASSMENT⚠️
NMIMS UNIVERSITY INDIA via METTL for exams
This is a thread to spread awareness about how a university hired a 3rd party software and has now brought the PRIVACY of FEMALE students at RISK. Proctors are hired with NO background CHECKS. #privacy breached pic.twitter.com/NHX9FQ2NWS— Gave ₹4 lakh to NMIMS➡️feel unsafe in my room (@Pranvybangswift) January 7, 2021
Case 3: this creep used different numbers to call my classmates but trucaller traced the same person, as proven in his picture. His name is Amit. Note his number in case he randomly calls you in the middle.of the night like the pervert he is. #mumbainews pic.twitter.com/XguobUgg7N
— Gave ₹4 lakh to NMIMS➡️feel unsafe in my room (@Pranvybangswift) January 7, 2021
THERE ARE MORE WHO WERE HARRASED BY THEIR EXAM INVIGILATORS. NMIMS has failed in protecting our privacy. Exam sessions are RECORDED with no guarantee that they won’t be leaked or misused. @MumbaiMirror @EduMinOfIndia @bombaytimes #Students #online #exams #harrasment #nmims pic.twitter.com/Dxv4S2ucXc
— Gave ₹4 lakh to NMIMS➡️feel unsafe in my room (@Pranvybangswift) January 7, 2021
NEVERENDING: Why would a proctor need a girls email? Over 10 and counting cases. #NMIMS sent a mail that they have taken police action against ONE Proctor. And a VAGUE statement that they’ll “mostly” keep women proctors w”herever possible”.#cybersecurity #mumbainews @fayedsouza pic.twitter.com/KRBlfMZC7y
— Gave ₹4 lakh to NMIMS➡️feel unsafe in my room (@Pranvybangswift) January 8, 2021
The particular college in question took notice of the tweets when they went viral. While they claimed to look into the matter, they urged the students to take down the pictures.
We request you to share details of the incident with us, via Direct Message. We will look into this and take legal action.
— NMIMS Global Access SCE (@NMIMS_SCE) January 8, 2021
But it is against University rules to click pictures of exam screens and share them in the public domain, so we urge you to take them down. We assure you that we will work towards resolving this at the earliest.
— NMIMS Global Access SCE (@NMIMS_SCE) January 8, 2021
This has sparked substantial outrage online. Many slammed the institution for compromising their students’ privacy while others exclaimed that women aren’t even safe in their own homes.
Absolutely no one is aware of what’s happening on the other side of the screen while students sit and give exams for over 2 hours. Not the students, not the college and as far as we know neither mettl.
— AverageIndianStudent (@AverageIndianS1) January 7, 2021
Please amplify this. This is so disgusting. Moreover the college's response to the incident is 🤢 if anyone can help this person , please reach out. https://t.co/u5Ejuv3MCp
— ♡ Shawty Bad ✨ (@sedshawty) January 9, 2021
What the fucking fuck NMIMS? Risking students lives for ur crappy exam? An exam that anyways is just a bahana to get into ur crap college? Socks up. https://t.co/cTlS7tQZPi
— Riha Umar Khalid, Sudha Bharadwaj (@gundekibhabhi) January 8, 2021
This isn't how they were asked to supervise the exam. This is disappointing. Universities shouldn't conduct online exams if this isn't resolved. https://t.co/WRLpLDAoGA
— Alka Dwivedi (@AlkaDwivedii) January 8, 2021
This is really pathetic! The harassment is not limited only to the physical world now. These so called proctors should be punished for their offence and a strict action must be taken against them. https://t.co/nZhE6xLu9j
— Gaurav Prabhu 🇮🇳 (@Gauravprabhu15) January 8, 2021
our college is going to have mettl for proctoring the upcoming exams and we brought this issue to their attention today and this one teacher had the audacity to say to us “tumhaare saath toh nahi hua na, jab tumhare saath hoga tab dekhenge” and i can’t explain how disgusted i am. https://t.co/S1ELWdYTsN
— Beans || Rida and Riya day🌴 (@SpiillTheBeans) January 8, 2021
The more we try to fight harassment, the more it finds cracks and fissures to slip into. We hope appropriate measures are taken against the accused proctors.