College students are getting royally screwed by Turnitin, a tech company that’s basically stealing intellectual property faster than your roommate steals your leftovers. 🙄

In the wild world of academic surveillance, Turnitin has transformed from a basic plagiarism checker into a massive data-hoarding machine that’s monetizing student writing without consent. The company has built a database of 1.9 billion student papers, charging colleges astronomical fees while simultaneously collecting perpetual rights to student work.

The Privacy Nightmare

Important context: These tech vultures are charging institutions millions of dollars for software that falsely flags student writing as AI-generated. Black and non-native English speaking students are disproportionately targeted, creating a toxic academic environment of constant suspicion.

The Real Cost

California colleges have spent over $15 million on Turnitin, with some institutions like UC Berkeley locked into a nearly $1.2 million decade-long contract. Students are caught in a horrifying surveillance system where their original work can be flagged, accused, and potentially penalized - all without clear guidelines.

Fighting Back

Some professors are pushing back, refusing to use the software and instead building trust with students. As one educator put it, “Deterrence doesn’t actually work” - and Turnitin’s approach is essentially creating an academic panopticon that erodes student trust and creativity.

The message is clear: Big Tech is coming for your intellectual property, and they’re doing it with a smile and an invoice.