San Diego State University secretly installed 1,300 AI-enabled cameras across campus in 2024, including pointing 330+ devices at student dormitories. Students learned about the surveillance network only after The Daily Aztec investigative team uncovered the installation through public records. The university spent over $1.3 million on the Avigilon system, capable of facial recognition, license plate reading, and behavior analysis.

The cameras violate the university's own policies, which prohibit surveillance in residential areas and require reasonable privacy expectations. While campus police claim the cameras only detect motion in restricted areas, the contract language reveals far more ambitious capabilities. SDSU refuses to post signage about camera locations, arguing it would jeopardize public safety.

SDU stands out among CSU campuses for its aggressive surveillance approach, with only Northridge employing similar AI-powered cameras nationwide. The hardware already exists on campus walls, capable of tracking individuals across campus and analyzing crowd density. The gap between the university's stated limitations and the system's technical capabilities creates a surveillance apparatus with unmonitored potential for expansion.