HCMC – Students using high-tech devices or artificial intelligence tools to cheat in the national high school graduation exams may face criminal charges, the Ministry of Public Security said.
The exams are held nationwide, with nearly 2,500 test sites and about one million candidates. More than 120,000 teachers and officials are involved. Around 15,000 police officers are deployed from preparation through administration, according to the Government news website (baochinhphu.vn).
A representative of the ministry’s Internal Political Security Department noted that high-tech cheating remains complex. Devices are increasingly difficult to detect. These range from magnetic micro earpieces to hidden cameras embedded in buttons, glasses, watches, or calculators. Some can connect and transmit data within seconds via high-speed mobile networks.
The use of AI tools such as ChatGPT adds to the challenge. Candidates can photograph exam questions and upload them to applications that generate answers quickly. Detection becomes harder, especially when platforms operate servers overseas.
Authorities recorded cases in last year’s exam where candidates used mobile phones to send images of test questions to AI tools for solutions. Police verified and handled the cases. One candidate was prosecuted for leaking State secrets.
Officials stressed that criminal measures are not the preferred approach. However, violations that breach the law must be addressed to ensure fairness and integrity.
Devices for cheating are openly advertised on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Telegram, making them accessible to students. Authorities have also handled cases spreading false information about exam leaks to attract online traffic, which disrupted the exam environment.
The ministry warned that cheating, particularly with high-tech or AI tools, violates regulations and may trigger criminal liability.
