Denmark mandates oral defense of essays to curb AI cheating in schools

The Danish government has introduced a package of measures aimed at limiting the misuse of artificial intelligence in secondary education. Students aged 16 to 19 will be required to orally defend large written assignments (known as the SSO) that they prepare at home, allowing teachers to verify the work’s authenticity.

Schools must also tighten computer monitoring during exams, install firewalls to block access to prohibited websites, and encourage more in‑class writing under supervision. Education Minister Magnus Heunicke announced the changes just before the new school year begins and said a national AI strategy for the education sector will be drafted to define permissible and prohibited uses of AI.

Around 9,000 Danish pupils complete an SSO each year, and the new rules aim to ensure that AI tools do not undermine students’ independent thinking and assessment of real skills. Similar concerns are being raised in neighboring Sweden, where AI‑related cheating incidents have surged.