Several Ohio universities, including Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University, have partnered with Flock Safety to use license plate reader cameras on their campuses. The cameras snap photos of passing vehicles and store them in the company’s online database, which can be accessed by law enforcement agencies.

Concerns Over Data Sharing

Critics are concerned about how the data is being captured and stored, and how it may be shared with federal immigration agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Case Western Reserve student Gregg Chase compared the use of the cameras to a “panopticon,” or a prison setup where a guard can see all prisoners at once.

University officials say the cameras help keep students safe, but Chase and other students are worried about the impact on international students and immigrant communities. Chase is a member of the Ohio Student Association, a progressive statewide advocacy group, and is working to convince the university to terminate its relationship with Flock.

Other Universities’ Decisions

At least 75 colleges nationwide use Flock cameras, according to a report by the college sports newsletter FOIAball. Kent State University decided not to move forward with Flock after a pilot program ended this spring, citing feedback from students who felt the cameras made them feel less secure.

Ohio University and Cleveland State University do not have Flock cameras on their campuses, while the University of Akron has an account with Flock but does not have any cameras on campus.

Original reporting: Signal Cleveland — read the source article.