Students across the United States are raising objections to the increasing use of AI-powered surveillance cameras, particularly those manufactured by Flock Safety, in school districts nationwide. The technology, which has been implemented in at least 100 school districts, is drawing criticism from students and civil liberties advocates who argue it constitutes an invasion of privacy and an undue level of surveillance.
Gabe Sayer, a 17-year-old senior from Loveland, Colorado, has become a vocal opponent, organizing a petition and launching an initiative called DeFlock Loveland to advocate for the removal of Flock cameras from his school district and city. Sayer believes the cameras infringe upon Fourth Amendment rights by subjecting students and community members to excessive surveillance. His petition, which has garnered over 700 signatures, asserts that widespread surveillance by companies like Flock jeopardizes American liberties.
Flock Safety markets its AI-powered cameras, license plate readers, and other surveillance equipment directly to educational institutions, promising to create a "virtual perimeter" around campuses. Unlike traditional security cameras, Flock's systems utilize AI to generate databases of movement information, raising concerns about their capabilities and data usage. Sophia Cope, staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, expressed worry that such technologies might accustom students to constant surveillance.
The Loveland school district stated that its Flock cameras, installed in 2024, were disconnected due to a lack of expected service return on investment, though the equipment remains on-site as it is owned by Flock. Sayer continues to engage with the city council regarding the cameras operated by the city.
While security cameras have been a fixture in schools for years, with 93% of public schools employing them in 2021, AI-enhanced systems present new challenges. These systems are increasingly automated, searchable, and interconnected. Reports indicate that data from Flock cameras has been accessed by various law enforcement agencies; one Texas school district reportedly granted US Border Patrol access to its Flock data, and another district's cameras were accessed over 733,000 times by law enforcement in a single month.
Flock Safety maintains that its systems are designed to enhance safety by identifying potential threats, such as unregistered visitors or suspicious vehicles, before they reach school entrances, aiming to prevent incidents like mass shootings. However, the extent to which this data can be accessed and by whom remains unclear, leading critics to fear that schools may become de facto surveillance outposts for law enforcement agencies.
Other companies are also deploying AI surveillance in schools. Omnialert, for instance, uses AI to detect firearms and reported over 3,000 such detections in 2025. However, an incident at Kenwood High School in Baltimore, where an AI detection system led to police approaching a student with guns drawn over what turned out to be a bag of chips, highlights potential issues with such systems.
Security consultant Kenneth Trump noted that while the technology is appealing to officials under pressure to address safety concerns, the rapid rollout may be premature. He emphasized that technology alone is not a substitute for fundamental security measures, suggesting that visible adult supervision and relationship-building with students are more effective means of ensuring safety.