Proctorio and Librarian Resolve Lawsuit Over Shared YouTube Videos
Canadian librarian Ian Linkletter has settled a five-year legal dispute with Proctorio, an ed-tech firm, after being sued for sharing public YouTube videos that detailed the company’s remote-proctoring AI. The lawsuit, which included claims of sharing private content, was resolved without financial compensation, with Proctorio securing a permanent injunction against Linkletter’s posts.
Linkletter’s legal battle began when he shared public YouTube videos that explained how Proctorio’s AI-driven remote-proctoring technology works. The lawsuit, filed by Proctorio, claimed that the videos contained confidential information, leading to a temporary injunction and the removal of several tweets by Linkletter. However, the case dragged on for five years, with legal challenges related to copyright and the recently passed Protection of Public Participation Act in Canada.
In a blog post announcing the settlement, Linkletter revealed that he had invested his life savings ten times over to fund his defense, with additional support from 900 GoFundMe contributors and thousands of members of the Association of Administrative and Professional Staff at UBC. His legal team, Norton Rose Fulbright, also provided pro bono representation, which Linkletter described as a crucial relief during the long litigation process.
The terms of the settlement remain confidential, but both Linkletter and Proctorio confirmed that no money was exchanged. Proctorio’s victory includes a permanent injunction that restricts Linkletter from posting the company’s help center or instructional materials. Despite this, Linkletter maintains that his freedom of expression remains intact and expresses his ongoing criticism of Proctorio’s remote-proctoring system.
Linkletter’s blog post highlights his relief at resolving the case, stating, ‘I’ve won my life back!’ while also acknowledging the significant impact of the lawsuit on his personal and financial life. He continues to criticize Proctorio’s practices, stating, ‘It doesn’t take much imagination to understand why Proctorio is a nightmare for students,’ emphasizing the role of public information in his disclosures.