What Is Image Proctoring?
Image proctoring is a lightweight integrity method that captures still-frame photos of a candidate at regular intervals during an online interview or assessment. The snapshots—taken via webcam—are time-stamped, compared for facial consistency, and scanned for red-flag cues (extra faces, mobile phones, second monitors). It offers fraud deterrence when full video streaming isn’t possible because of bandwidth, privacy, or cost.
How Image Proctoring Works in a Hiring Workflow
| Stage | What Happens | Integrity Check |
| 1 • Consent & Calibration | Candidate grants webcam access; system frames the face | Ensures clear baseline image |
| 2 • Timed Captures | Software grabs still images every 20–60 seconds | Face-match vs. baseline; detects multiple people |
| 3 • Screen Snapshot (optional) | Parallel screen image recorded | Flags new tabs, IDE changes, external docs |
| 4 • AI Analysis | Images scanned for pose change, extra devices, absence | Immediate flag to interviewer or log |
| 5 • Audit Report | Sequence of images + flag list saved | Recruiter reviews only if anomalies appear |
Why Recruiters Use Image Proctoring
- Bandwidth Friendly — runs smoothly on low-speed connections where HD video can’t.
- Privacy Centric — stills consume less data, often meeting stricter privacy or region-specific regulations.
- Cost Efficient — lower compute/storage footprint than continuous video.
- Layered Security — pairs well with AI Proctoring flags or post-interview human review.
Key Benefits
- 🛡️ Fraud Deterrence — discourages proxy interviewers & off-camera coaching
- 🌐 Global Reach — reliable in regions with unstable internet
- 💾 Light Storage — saves images rather than large video files
- 📊 Review on Demand — recruiters open the image log only when flagged
Common Hiring Scenarios
- High-volume campus interviews in areas with limited bandwidth
- Early-stage AI screening interviews where cost per candidate must stay minimal
- Confidential roles that disallow full video recording by policy
- Disaster-recovery fallback when live-stream proctoring fails mid-session
FAQs
Q1: Is image proctoring secure enough for senior roles?
A: It deters basic fraud, but executive or regulated positions often add live or hybrid proctoring for maximum assurance.
Q2: How is candidate privacy handled?
A: Only still images are stored, encrypted, and auto-purged on a fixed retention schedule; no continuous audio/video is captured.
Q3: Can candidates disable the webcam after starting?
A: If the camera feed drops, the system flags the event and can pause or terminate the interview until video is restored.
