Earlier this month the University of Sydney launched an investigation into allegations miniature spy cameras were used to record and distribute exam content online.

At the same time, the UK’s national examinations regulator warned smart glasses, smartwatches and concealed earpieces are emerging threats for unis.

Chief regulator of qualifications Sir Ian Bauckham noted technology was “changing fast”:

There are smartwatches that we are increasingly seeing on young people and they are fully internet connected […] And I understand that in the pipeline there are even things like smart glasses […]

There are smartwatches that we are increasingly seeing on young people and they are fully internet connected […] And I understand that in the pipeline there are even things like smart glasses […]

There is a renewed emphasis on having in-person exams in response to AI. University administrators have traditionally regarded in-person, invigilated exams as the most reliable way of ensuring students don’t cheat.

But the rise of these new wearable technologies could undermine this approach.

So what can Australian universities do in response?

A new generation of tech

Cheating in examinations is of course not new. Students have long relied on handwritten notes, information hidden on clothing, or materials accessed during bathroom breaks.

In 2022, a Spanish law student even gained........

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