Campus Security Cameras: Frequently Asked Questions

Our campus comprises 168 acres and 14 million square feet of academic, research, and residential space. There are currently about 4,600 security cameras on our campus. Security cameras are located on building perimeters and other exterior locations; in building entrances, lobbies, and public hallways; and near specific high-risk infrastructure, such as the Nuclear Reactor Lab. Additionally, departments, labs, centers, and institutes (DLCIs) may request security camera installations in offices or labs due to local safety and security concerns. 

With very few exceptions, MIT Police do not monitor campus security camera footage on a real-time basis. Exceptions include live monitoring of large MIT events like Commencement or critical infrastructure such as the Nuclear Reactor Lab, as required by law. 

No. The security cameras do not record audio. Massachusetts law prohibits recording audio without the knowledge of those being recorded. Additionally, we do not use facial recognition technology with our security cameras.

IS&T is responsible for maintaining campus security cameras. Camera footage is stored in IS&T’s secure, on-site data center.

MIT Police may share camera footage with state and local law enforcement agencies actively investigating significant public safety incidents captured by MIT security cameras. For other law enforcement agencies, MIT would provide security camera footage only in response to a valid legal process, such as a subpoena or search warrant.

Upon request of the affected party or an insurance company, MIT may also provide security camera footage to individuals involved in non-criminal campus incidents, such as an automobile or bicycle accident. 

Footage is retained for 30 days unless it is being reviewed or relied upon in connection with a specific incident or if required by law.

The Campus Safety Working Group determines where cameras are installed. The group is made up of representatives from IS&T, the MIT Police, Campus Planning, and the Office of the Provost. In some cases, it initiates projects to install or replace security cameras. In other cases, it reviews and decides upon requests from DLCIs for security cameras to address local security concerns.

In November 2025, we began to install new security cameras in public, high-traffic spaces in the Main Group and on the exterior of certain buildings and outdoor fixtures. We chose these locations to close key gaps in coverage that became apparent during recent investigations into thefts, vandalism, and destruction of MIT property. The locations were also chosen to help ensure adequate coverage to aid in an investigation if MIT were to experience a serious safety-related incident, as we have seen on other college campuses.

Community safety is a critical priority, and closing security camera coverage gaps in key, high-traffic areas of our campus advances this objective. This was funded within IS&T’s budget (from savings achieved beyond their required budget cuts), and did not require cuts to other unit budgets or priorities.

No. MIT does not use AI to monitor or analyze security camera footage, and this did not change with the recent installation of additional security cameras.

No. MIT had been exploring whether it is prudent and advisable to make limited use of AI in connection with campus security cameras to better protect campus safety and property.

As part of this effort, the administration established a group of faculty, staff, students, and postdocs to advise on whether, and under what conditions, AI could potentially be deployed to:

• enable more efficient review of camera footage during investigations; and
• identify significant safety events – such as someone brandishing a firearm or leaving an unattended package in a highly trafficked public space – on a real-time basis.

The group’s discussion was informed in part by findings from a time-bound pilot the administration conducted under a limited agreement with Ambient.ai. This pilot included using staged scenarios to explore how real-time alerts could work for specific safety events. The pilot has concluded, and all data has been purged from Ambient.ai’s portal.

After reflecting on feedback received from the advisory group as well as a cross-section of community members, the administration has decided to stop its evaluation of the limited use of AI in MIT’s security cameras and has no plans to revisit the issue. Our conversations underscored the complexity of this issue and some concerns about the pace of AI’s development. 

Yes. The program is a typical tool used to protect campus safety and property.  The security camera program will continue to operate as it does today, with no AI, audio recording, or facial recognition.

Security camera footage can be shared with the Committee on Discipline (COD) for student disciplinary purposes with written approval of a senior officer. IS&T policy language was recently clarified without changing this longstanding rule and practice. It is important to note, however, that the use of such footage in student disciplinary proceedings is rare.