Montana Universities Deny Use of AI Surveillance Cameras
The state's two major public universities confirm they do not use facial recognition or AI-driven tracking on their networks.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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The University of Montana and Montana State University have confirmed they do not utilize artificial intelligence or facial recognition on their security camera networks. This clarification follows allegations during a recent Montana U.S. Senate debate regarding surveillance practices at the University of Montana.
Why it matters
The status of campus surveillance technologies has become a point of contention in state politics, highlighting the lack of a unified policy across the Montana University System. These schools maintain that current camera deployments are focused on emergency response and event coordination rather than AI-driven tracking.
The University of Montana manages 300 cameras across its campus, while Montana State University operates 479 units. Both institutions state they manually configure these systems to disable AI and facial recognition features.
The players
University of Montana
A public research university operating 300 security cameras and subject to state laws prohibiting facial recognition usage.
Montana State University
A public research university managing 479 security cameras with plans to expand its network by 61 additional units.
Seth Bodnar
The former president of the University of Montana who served for eight years and faced accusations regarding campus surveillance systems.
Alani Bankhead
A Democratic candidate who raised concerns about AI surveillance systems during a recent Senate debate.
Montana University System
The governing body for 16 campuses in the state that currently lacks a unified policy regarding the use of AI in security.
The details
Universities in the system maintain these camera networks to facilitate emergency responses and monitor large gatherings, such as those at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Security staff operate these feeds through localized dispatch centers, emphasizing that AI features would not improve their specific responsiveness needs. Campus systems are customized at the hardware or software level to ensure biometric data, such as facial recognition patterns, is not captured or processed.
Timeline
September 2026: U.S. Senate candidate debate held in Missoula.
October 16, 2026: University confirmation issued.
The Tech Race
These institutions are currently operating within the constraints of Montana state law prohibiting the use of facial recognition. This stance marks a departure from trends in other jurisdictions where universities are increasingly adopting AI-driven monitoring software.
Students and visitors on these campuses are not currently subjected to AI-based facial scanning or automated tracking on university grounds. The systems continue to function as traditional video feeds for emergency response and large-scale event management.
The takeaway
The Montana University System remains a patchwork of localized security policies rather than a centralized technological framework. Readers should monitor future legislative sessions to see if a uniform policy for AI and surveillance is proposed for all 16 state campuses.
Further reading
Learn more about local implementation trends in Artificial Intelligence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KPVI.
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