There is a nonzero chance you are being watched by the federal government every time you attend a college football game in the United States. A recent investigation conducted by David Covucci of FOIAball discovered the use of surveillance at multiple Big Ten and SEC stadiums, which is likely a small sample size compared to what is really going on.
This all stems from an operation within the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11.
The concern is that these security measures for college football games could eventually become the norm within society as personal data privacy continues to decrease. It gives serious 1984 vibes.
What is the Homeland Security Information Network?
The Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) is a system run by the Department of Homeland Security. It was created after Sept. 11, 2001 to help government agencies share information about safety and security by connecting federal, state and local law enforcement through a secure online platform.
The system allows users to send messages, upload documents and share live videos from cameras, drones and even mobile phones. It is most often used at big public events like concerts, marathons and sports games to keep all of the security teams on the same page. Nothing out of the ordinary. Seems pretty reasonable, if not beneficial.
However, David Covucci of FOIAball found a much deeper connection between this information network and college football and how it creates serious privacy concerns.
The Department of Homeland Security uses HSIN at college football games.
Covucci discovered the use of HSIN at Ole Miss in 2024 for home games against Georgia and Mississippi State. Documents show that 11 different law enforcement agencies worked together through HSIN, including campus and state police, and even a separate military rapid-response unit. All 11 agencies used a joint digital command center to share maps, updates and potential threats to safety in real time.
The Rebels were not alone in their use of HSIN!
Ohio State worked with the Department of Homeland Security to use HSIN during every home football game in 2015. Georgia Tech used the system in 2019 to share live video from mobile phones and police cameras on game days. UCF connected its drone systems and in-stadium security cameras to HSIN in 2023.
Those are just a few examples. I would imagine it goes far beyond these four schools, even though Ohio State and Georgia Tech both told Covucci they no longer use the system.
What are the privacy concerns?
HSIN is designed for security coordination but its tools can also be used for large-scale surveillance. It is able to gather and store data and link to private security cameras. It can even be used alongside facial recognition software from companies like Clearview AI.
That is where the lines start to blur between security and surveillance.
The Department of Homeland Security claims the HSIN tools improve safety. That may be true. It is very important to have centralized security systems. HSIN is a massive help when it comes to coordination.
The data becomes a concern. Especially when facial recognition is involved.
Covucci spoke to multiple privacy experts who have serious concerns about the data. They have questions.
What kind of data is saved? How long is it kept within the system? Who is able to access the data? What are they using the data for once they get access?
And, perhaps most importantly, what happens if this temporary monitoring becomes more permanent with time? Where does it stop?
The growing use of Department of Homeland Security surveillance systems like HSIN at college football games can be looked at as testing grounds for ongoing federal monitoring technology. While they are presented as helpful for safety and coordination (which is true), they also expand the government’s ability to collect and analyze personal data, quietly. The concern is that they will eventually be used for constant public surveillance… if they are not already. There is no oversight!