Many AI detectors have become available in the marketplace. Whether free or paid, these tools collect student data and use it to grow their systems. Inputting student work into AI detection platforms without the student’s written consent can violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Under FERPA, student work is considered an educational record and thus requires written affirmative consent from the student to share it. The only exception is when the college contracts with an outside party engaged in service to the institution, who is under the control and parameters of a contract with the institution and is bound in their own activities by FERPA regulations.
Additional situations pertaining to the criminal justice system, national emergencies, or financial aid can also constitute exceptions. AI detectors do not fit into any of those categories.
Running sentences from a student’s paper through a regular internet search engine to detect plagiarism does not constitute a FERPA violation.
False Positive Results
In addition to a violation of FERPA, AI detectors can produce false positives, particularly for students who are English language learners. Given the unreliability and potential legal and ethical problems these tools present, we strongly recommend that all faculty rely on other means to detect academic dishonesty and communicate with students about their suspicions.
Learn more about Academic Integrity at QU →
SafeAssign in Blackboard
Instructors may use SafeAssign, which is available through Blackboard. SafeAssign does not detect AI, but it can help to verify the originality of the assignments. This tool provides an “originality report” which highlights text that matches sources in its database. Instructors using this tool should review report details to confirm that highlighted text is quoted and properly cited.
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