October Online Bar Exams Spark Technology, Privacy Concerns

As about 30,000 would-be lawyers prepare to take online bar exams in New York, California, and 16 other states in early October, many have said they’re grateful to avoid the health risks that come with taking an in-person test alongside hundreds of others during a pandemic.

Yet the online tests also present a range of significant issues, adding another layer of uncertainty for those preparing for the biggest test of their professional lives.

There are fears over the security and effectiveness of facial recognition technologies and artificial intelligence-driven camera watchers, or “remote proctors,” meant to combat cheating. There are also ...