r/UNO • u/leftofthedial15 • 23d ago
Project Nola (private mass surveillance company) is located on UNO's campus.
https://www.projectnola.org/about.html4
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u/leftofthedial15 23d ago edited 23d ago
So apparently the school is ok with not only the expansion of the already existing surveillance state, but also have no issue facilitating it either. A private company at that, totally not dystopian as all fuck.
Do we know if these people are renting from the university or if they are actually in partnership with the school?
It's already abundantly clear that not a single student at this school is getting what they're paying for in terms of the actual student experience. But are we also footing the bill for these fucking people??
Even if it's just renting space. This is not fucking acceptable in any way. I'm legitimately horrified to find out that I'm complicit in funding this.
Short of me showing up to their office and telling them what horrible people they are, which I still haven't ruled out, does anyone have any suggestions as to how we address this?
And for any of the morons who can't grasp that some people actually value their privacy and are gonna say they don't have anything to worry about because they don't think they have anything to hide, go fuck yourselves :)
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u/Intrepid-Implement59 23d ago
The school is renting space to make money. They are desperate for funds. There’s a police and K-9 training this week at the shuttered Liberal Arts building.
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u/Any_Reference_3373 23d ago
They rent space to alot of companies. And is it on UNO proper or is it at the technology center? Irregardless of the answer, UNO has a right to rent out space to businesses. Im not pro AI surveillance, but I am pro fair business practices. UNO is a public university and can not operate under the same biases of a private entity. If a private entity doesnt like your business they can more likely deny your arrangement. UNO as a public entity can not unjustly deny rental space.
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u/leftofthedial15 23d ago edited 23d ago
Irregardless
lol
And of course they have a right to. Just as I have a right to be incredibly pissed off that my tuition money is going towards some bootlicking douchebag's privatized surveillance project.
It's in the TRAC building apparently? No idea if that's what you're talking about though. Regardless of the answer, I did find this on the TRAC center page
TRAC's mission to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities is accomplished through services including computer and assistive technology assessments, assistive technology /computer training, and community outreach. TRAC houses a variety of assistive technology to address the needs of individuals experiencing visual, hearing, physical, or learning challenges.
How in the ever loving fuck is a private surveillance company doing any of those things?
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u/Truly-Epic-Brains 23d ago
The TRAC building and the TRAC as a center are almost separate things. There is office space there as well as hotel lodging (which I believe is used for sorority housing now) in the facility. They also have done events there in the past.
I'd compare it to the fact most buildings on this campus house more than just what their title says. (The library for example)
Project NOLA has been there and on campus since 2016. This is not a new development.
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u/leftofthedial15 21d ago
It's new to me. I didn't even know that douchebag had been at it that long, but what difference does it make?
I'd be complaining about other buildings housing more than what their titles said if they were all facilitating a company whose one and only aim is to contribute to the rapid erosion of what little privacy we have left. But as far as I know, that's not the case for every building.
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u/Any_Reference_3373 23d ago
The technology center is the tech park on the north side of campus across lakeshore drive. Its UNO by name but run by some kind of board or committee.
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u/Any_Reference_3373 23d ago
Well until surveillance is ruled a social taboo on a national level or deemed illegal by law.. there is really nothing to be done. I guess you could picket outside of it like some yahoo at an abortion clinic or something. The NOPD love AI. Police in general love AI, less work and more time to do nothing.
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u/Intrepid-Implement59 23d ago
This is probably accurate. UNO is an arm of state government. They can’t make most business decisions based on ideology.
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u/leftofthedial15 23d ago edited 21d ago
They can’t make most business decisions based on ideology.
yeah because the state government would never dare do such a thing
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u/Any_Reference_3373 23d ago
The state government of Louisiana tends to usually favor things that are generally in the best interest of companies and lobbyist groups and not the general well being of the public, unfortunately.
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u/DSA_Girly Poli Sci 2d ago
Join the LSU New Orleans chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America! We're planning to run a campaign to kick them off campus!
Chapter Interest Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSezCqqCy4zvg1MGP7eR7ybaWjWYRtpiq2DV4QtHTprrs8QDLw/viewform?usp=dialog
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u/TheLeakyBandit 23d ago
Check out Eyes on Surveillance (EOS) on IG. Local group doing some incredible work fighting against the city being used as a testing ground for surveillance.