New security camera installations on campus raise concerns
Reporting about the SGA, not a record of it: The Johns Hopkins News-Letter published this and the SGA did not write it, file it, or approve it. The archive holds it because the article itself uses the phrase “student government”.
Summary
- This Johns Hopkins News-Letter article reports on new campus security cameras and students’ concerns about them.
- The News-Letter reported that LiveView Technologies cameras were added in early October, placed in campus quads and priced at about $32,000 each.
- The paper reported that the cameras provide continuous monitoring, infrared and thermal video, and artificial intelligence features.
- The article says students raised concerns about limited information from the University and the collection of biometric data, including concerns described by Karen Izaguirre and Skye Neulight.
- The reporter writes that a University spokesperson cited Maryland limits on facial recognition, while the University’s FAQ says footage may be kept for up to 31 days and reviewed when needed for serious conduct or policy violations.
- According to the article, SGA Senator Justin Pokrant said he had heard rumors about AI face tracking and questioned why the cameras were needed.
- The paper also reported mixed views: master’s student Sushrut Kumar said the cameras did not bother him, while the Hopkins Justice Collective argued that money should be redirected from surveillance equipment to other student and community needs.