A college in Illinois tried to cancel its Flock contact and it refused
Elgin Community College attempted to terminate its contract with surveillance firm Flock Safety over concerns regarding data privacy and unauthorized data sharing with federal agencies. The company refused to remove the equipment, leading to a months-long standoff where the college repeatedly covered the cameras only for them to be uncovered by unidentified service workers.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the growing tension between public institutions and private surveillance contractors, raising critical questions about contractual control, data sovereignty, and the ethics of automated security infrastructure.
In April of 2025, Elgin Community College had six Flock safety cameras installed to “enhance the safety and security of students.” But by September of that year, the school’s administration grew concerned that Flock was sharing data with Customs and Border Patrol, that camera feeds were not properly secured, and that both law enforcement and the company’s employees were abusing access to the data.
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