MIT is reportedly spending more than $3 million to install over 500 AI-powered surveillance cameras across its campus as part of a multi-phase security expansion. The university says the project is intended to improve campus safety, but students have raised concerns over facial recognition capabilities, expanded surveillance, and data use. According to MIT's student newspaper, The Tech, the new cameras will be capable of real-time face and object classification, including detection of motion, crowds, face masks, and other attributes. MIT spokesperson Kimberly Allen said the cameras are "part of regular efforts to promote campus security," and that data is "retained up to 30 days" unless an exception is granted. Installation began in November 2025 and is expected to continue through September 2026. The project includes 521 AI-integrated cameras across academic buildings, residence halls, and outdoor locations along Memorial Drive; 501 are single-lens, and 20 are quad-lens. The expansion adds 67 exterior cameras and 13 new "Code Blue" emergency phone towers. Most of the project's nearly $2 million camera contract has been awarded to Siemens, with LCN and Picardi Electric handling installation. The primary camera supplier is Hanwha Vision, whose Wisenet AI cameras can detect facial features, licence plates, motion, loitering, crowds, and objects, and classify individuals based on clothing colour, gender, and estimated age from up to 35 feet (11 metres). Allen said audio recording functions have