Algeria Implements Internet Shutdown to Prevent Exam Cheating

The Algerian government ordered a nationwide Internet shutdown to curb exam cheating among high school students. The shutdown took place within a five-day period as students took their baccalaureate tests, which ended on June 25. Students were not able to access the Internet for two hours each morning during this period. Access to social networking sites like Facebook was also completely cut off for the duration of the exams. Despite the government’s intention to prevent cheating, digital rights groups have raised their concerns about the shutdown. Social Media Exchange (SMEX), a Lebanese NGO, argued that there is no data showing the effectiveness of Internet shutdowns on the prevention of exam cheating. Additionally, Access Now, a group campaigning for Internet freedom, reported that blocking Internet access would affect not only the education sector but also businesses and companies that rely on the Internet. Aside from the shutdown, other preventive measures were taken to curb cheating. These measures included the installation of metal detectors in exam centers and the confiscation of mobile phones and tablets among teachers and proctors. These preventive measures were done following a widespread exam leakage that took place in Algeria in 2016. Before the students were scheduled to take their exams, test questions and answers spread on social media. Because of this leakage, several exams were deemed invalid by Algeria’s education ministry. This decision required over 500,000 students to retake the exams. In addition, 31 people got arrested and were held accountable for the incident.