By admin 
TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — Arizona State University has 20 Flock cameras, also known as automated license plate readers, installed on its Tempe campus, including on pedestrian walkways. The cameras are raising concerns among students and civil liberties advocates about surveillance and data sharing.
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The university confirmed it has used the cameras since 2022. ASU said the data collected is used only as part of investigations and only in public areas, and that when it is used, it is alongside other evidence.
Cameras placed on walkways
At least one of the cameras is positioned on a walkway in front of Noble Library — an area where vehicle traffic is limited. The placement has prompted questions from students about why the cameras were installed there and how the data is being used.
ASU senior Luke Paul said he noticed the cameras some time ago.
“I personally don’t like them. They’re an invasion of privacy,” Paul said. “It just doesn’t seem like they’re being used properly.”
ASU senior Hayden Nguyen, who is with the group Students for Justice in Palestine, said the organization has raised concerns about the cameras on social media.
“The main issue for me is that these cameras are taking data, analyzing it with AI and storing them for up to 30 days,” Nguyen said. “We appreciate safety and we appreciate what ASU does to keep students safe but at the end of the day it shouldn’t come at the cost of surveilling thousands or tens of thousands of innocent people all the time.”
ASU’s real-time analysis center
In response to questions, ASU directed Arizona’s Family Investigates to a press release about its Real Time Analysis Center, which it said has earned national recognition. According to that release, the center provides “officers with timely situational awareness, actionable data and proactive monitoring of high theft areas.”
ASU did not respond to follow-up questions about how the data could be accessed or used by other law enforcement agencies.
Data sharing and ICE concerns
The ACLU of Arizona is opposed to the cameras’ use on campus. The organization noted that other law enforcement agencies subscribed to Flock’s network can access the data, and that there are reports the data has been shared with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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“We’ve seen cases where Arizona data has popped up in other states and once that data leaves Arizona borders it is no longer subject to Arizona laws and regulations,” Katelynn Contreras, ACLU Arizona policy strategist, said.
An international graduate student from China, who declined to give their name, said the situation is a source of concern.
“As an international student of course I have some concerns,” the student said, adding that they worried about being unable to finish their degree.
Contreras said the organization views the issue as a constitutional matter.
“Our constitutional rights should not be forfeited for the sake of public safety,” Contreras said.
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