End Flock Safety surveillance at Cal Poly campus
End Flock Safety surveillance at Cal Poly campus
The Issue
"When you abandon freedom to achieve security, you lose both and deserve neither." - Thomas Jefferson.
To the Cal Poly Administration and the Cal Poly Police Department:
Our administration has granted access to Flock Safety, an invasive surveillance company known for its extensive network that law enforcement agencies across the U.S. have used against protestors, activists, specific racial groups, and even women who have recently undergone abortions. Cal Poly argues that data is only shared on a "case by case" basis, and that data is never shared with ICE without a court order (because that would be illegal), but police departments across the state said the same thing and it turned out they were lying. This raises significant concerns about the overreach of surveillance and the potential targeting of marginalized communities on campus.
Flock Safety's presence on our campus represents a violation of our Fourth Amendment rights, which guarantee protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, reflected in multiple pending lawsuits against agencies and the company itself. Cal Poly should be a beacon of learning and expression, not a ground for unwarranted surveillance. Surveillance systems like these invade our privacy and scrutinize innocent individuals, challenging the core values of freedom and privacy that are the backbone of our democracy.
Additionally, the financial burden of maintaining the system falls upon the school/taxpayers, as Flock Safety is a private company. Costing between $2,000 to $3,000 per unit annually, the Cameras are a destructive use of resources which could be allocated to academic programs, mental health services, and student support programs that genuinely enhance campus life.
And then there's the vulnerability of these systems to hacking, further risking the exposure of personal information to malicious entities. Numerous researchers have exposed grave vulnerabilities in the cameras that allow almost anyone with an android and a couple minutes on their hands to take them over. I ask the Cal Poly administration to prioritize the safety, security, and rights of its students over the interests of the surveillance state. I demand the removal of Flock Safety’s systems and prevent further harm. Please protect our privacy, our rights, and the values that make Cal Poly a diverse and inclusive institution, and reconsider this relationship that violates such essential freedoms.
tobiashalpern@gmail.com
4157302423
Important Links and Reading
1,395
The Issue
"When you abandon freedom to achieve security, you lose both and deserve neither." - Thomas Jefferson.
To the Cal Poly Administration and the Cal Poly Police Department:
Our administration has granted access to Flock Safety, an invasive surveillance company known for its extensive network that law enforcement agencies across the U.S. have used against protestors, activists, specific racial groups, and even women who have recently undergone abortions. Cal Poly argues that data is only shared on a "case by case" basis, and that data is never shared with ICE without a court order (because that would be illegal), but police departments across the state said the same thing and it turned out they were lying. This raises significant concerns about the overreach of surveillance and the potential targeting of marginalized communities on campus.
Flock Safety's presence on our campus represents a violation of our Fourth Amendment rights, which guarantee protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, reflected in multiple pending lawsuits against agencies and the company itself. Cal Poly should be a beacon of learning and expression, not a ground for unwarranted surveillance. Surveillance systems like these invade our privacy and scrutinize innocent individuals, challenging the core values of freedom and privacy that are the backbone of our democracy.
Additionally, the financial burden of maintaining the system falls upon the school/taxpayers, as Flock Safety is a private company. Costing between $2,000 to $3,000 per unit annually, the Cameras are a destructive use of resources which could be allocated to academic programs, mental health services, and student support programs that genuinely enhance campus life.
And then there's the vulnerability of these systems to hacking, further risking the exposure of personal information to malicious entities. Numerous researchers have exposed grave vulnerabilities in the cameras that allow almost anyone with an android and a couple minutes on their hands to take them over. I ask the Cal Poly administration to prioritize the safety, security, and rights of its students over the interests of the surveillance state. I demand the removal of Flock Safety’s systems and prevent further harm. Please protect our privacy, our rights, and the values that make Cal Poly a diverse and inclusive institution, and reconsider this relationship that violates such essential freedoms.
tobiashalpern@gmail.com
4157302423
Important Links and Reading
1,395
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Petition created on January 17, 2026