Why Does LockDown Browser Need My Camera Permission on Mac?

LockDown Browser asks for camera permission on Mac because Respondus Monitor (the paid add-on) needs it for webcam recording. The base LockDown Browser does not strictly need camera; the prompt fires anyway because Monitor sometimes turns on per-quiz at the institution's discretion.

macOS' permission system asks once per app for camera access. Respondus prompts on first launch because they need camera before any quiz can use it. Even if your current quiz does not use Monitor, future ones might, and prompting in the middle of an exam would break the flow. The permission stays granted until you revoke it manually in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera. If you want the overlay invisible during a Monitor exam, grant the permission - the overlay's privacy is independent of the camera permission state.

Monitor refuses to start without camera. The exam will not launch.

No - those are separate permissions (Camera vs Screen Recording).

Recording the screen requires it; no permission, no screen capture.