CWA Campus Workers Rally Against Campus Surveillance

In early August, members of United Campus Workers-CWA Arizona (UCWAZ-CWA Local 7065) learned that the administration of the University of Arizona had contracted with Flock Safety to install approximately 54 Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) around the university’s campus. These ALPRs record license plate and vehicle information, which is then saved and shared nationally in an AI-driven database. University officials did not share information publicly about this contract or the presence of these ALPRs.

Data collected by Flock Safety systems has been used across the country by law enforcement officials for immigration-related searches. Instances of abuse of the system include the handcuffing of a 12-year-old due to a Flock Safety data error of a misread license plate, law enforcement officers using the system to stalk former romantic partners, and use of the data to track people traveling out of state to seek reproductive health care.

Multiple city governments have responded to their residents’ concerns by cancelling their Flock Safety contracts. UCWAZ-CWA members stand with other community and student groups requesting the university cancel its contract with Flock Safety and remove the ALPRs.

Click here to read a statement from members of UCWAZ-CWA, which represents students, staff, and faculty at all three of Arizona's public universities (Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona) and some of Arizona's community colleges.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.