Illinois college covers surveillance cameras after dispute with security company Flock

Elgin Community College in Illinois covered six Flock safety cameras on its campus after the company refused to remove them, The Verge reported. The college had the cameras installed in April 2025 to enhance safety for students. However, school administrators sought to cancel the agreement later that year over data privacy and security issues. [1]

By September 2025, college administration became concerned that Flock was sharing user data with Customs and Border Patrol, according to The Verge. The school also raised concerns that camera feeds were not adequately secured, and that both law enforcement officials and Flock employees were abusing access to the collected data. [1]

The college requested that Flock cancel the contract in October 2025, The Verge reported. When the company refused to take the cameras down, college staff covered the devices themselves. Flock employees subsequently returned to the campus without permission to uncover the cameras. [1]