Students are protesting a move by the Australian National University (ANU) to force them to install Proctorio, a remote monitoring program, on their personal computers for exams.

Key points: The Australian National University will use eye-tracking artificial intelligence software to conduct exams remotely this semester

The Australian National University will use eye-tracking artificial intelligence software to conduct exams remotely this semester Students have petitioned against the software, saying it is a violation of their privacy

Students have petitioned against the software, saying it is a violation of their privacy The university says the software is widely used and highly secure

In response to the COVID-19 shutdown, the ANU said it would use remote examinations instead of on-campus exams this semester.

"To ensure that the examinations are safe, secure, transparent and valid, the university will use Proctorio to invigilate exams remotely," the ANU said in a statement.

"Many universities have used Proctorio, and [it] complies with numerous privacy regulations/certifications."

But ANU student representative Grace Hill said asking students to install an AI monitoring system on their personal computers was a "gross" invasion of privacy.

"There's increasingly requirements for students to participate in online learning with anti-cheating components," Ms Hill said.

"[But] the filming and recording and artificial intelligence monitoring of people's faces and bodies has been what has crossed the line for many students."

Hundreds of universities using AI to monitor students

Proctorio uses facial detection software to verify and monitor students through their webcam for "suspicious" activity, including eye movements and background activity or noise.

It combines that with keystroke monitoring and artificial intelligence that learns to recognise cheating behaviour.

An automated report is then generated for teachers with a "suspicion level" for each student, and video recordings are stored on Proctorio's servers, where it can be accessed by relevant ANU staff.

While staff are able to access that data, the company itself cannot, nor does it access files or data stored on a student's computer.

Proctorio markets itself as "unbiased, unblinking and unlimited" remote proctoring with "military-grade" security.

More than 400 universities around the world — including Harvard and Columbia University — use the software to conduct exams online.

But ANU students fear their information is at risk in light of high profile data breaches at the university in the past few years, including a breach that exposed more than 200,000 people and hackers trawled undetected through personal information for months.

"The ANU has had a patchy history with security breaches," Ms Hill said.

"This has been a big area of concern for many students, particularly given the sensitive nature of what is being stored."

In less than a week, 3,000 people had signed an online petition— organised by Ms Hill — for Proctorio to be scrapped at the ANU.

In response to those concerns, the ANU told students it had embarked on a "major uplift of its security posture" since the data breaches.

"We can find no evidence of Proctorio suffering a security breach," a university response to students read.

"Whilst the concerns are understandable, that should be balanced against the fact hundreds of universities have utilised it."

Staff using the software have also been provided privacy law training.

Ms Hill said in the current circumstances, the university should consider cancelling exams, conducting open-book exams or using other forms of assessment.

"The university should listen to student opinion, it's overwhelming at this stage that students reject Proctorio," she said.

The ANU said only a small number of its exams would move to Proctorio, and that it was planning alternative arrangements for students with accessibility or equity issues.