During a U.S. Senate candidate debate in Missoula, Democrat Alani Bankhead accused independent candidate Seth Bodnar of hypocrisy for sharing a campaign video of himself shooting a Flock-style camera. Bankhead pointed out that AI-driven Verkada cameras were installed at the University of Montana while Bodnar was president. However, this claim lacked full context.
Verkada provides “security solutions” allowing easy video feed sharing with law enforcement, but both the University of Montana (UM) and Montana State University (MSU) clarified they do not use AI or facial recognition. UM spokesperson Dave Kuntz emphasized, “Seth is correct that we don’t utilize facial recognition or share data via our cameras.” Despite this, automated surveillance cameras have sparked privacy concerns.
AI Debate Raises Concerns
The Missoula debate also tackled AI regulation, with questions about endorsing an international treaty for AI control. Bankhead argued the U.S. should address its AI challenges first, particularly to protect children. She accused technology companies of influencing Congress to the detriment of child safety, citing her experience in cyber crimes against children.
Bodnar, former UM leader, stated the importance of campus security without enabling a “surveillance state.” He noted that while security cameras are crucial, “these were not empowered with facial recognition technology. They weren’t storing data. They weren’t sharing data.” Bodnar concurred with Bankhead on the necessity of AI safeguards.
Campus Security Camera Use
UM has around 300 security cameras, aiding in emergencies and event management, according to Kuntz. Although most cameras have AI capabilities, UM avoids these features due to state law prohibitions. Similarly, MSU’s Bozeman campus uses non-AI cameras from Milestone, with 479 cameras currently in operation and more planned. Mike Becker of MSU stated their system does not employ facial recognition and is only monitored during specific events.
The Montana University System lacks comprehensive camera data across its campuses and doesn’t have a policy for AI technologies in security systems.
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