JNU Students Remove Facial-ID System Over Privacy Concerns; University Orders Security Probe

Tension escalated at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Friday after students removed and discarded a newly installed facial-recognition system placed at the entrance of the Dr B R Ambedkar Central Library.

Members of the JNU Students’ Union accused the administration of violating privacy, installing surveillance tools without consultation, and ignoring long-standing infrastructure problems on campus.

Videos circulating on social media showed students uprooting the device and throwing it aside as security personnel attempted to stop them.

Students Protest Lack of Transparency, Cite Surveillance Fears

Student leaders argued that the installation came at a time when the campus was already struggling with:

• Overcrowded reading halls

• Broken and inadequate furniture

• Insufficient water facilities

• Lack of a dedicated reading room

They claimed the administration previously attempted to introduce facial-recognition technology but was forced to shelve the plan after widespread protests and disciplinary cases.

Student representatives said that a committee formed to examine the proposal had not yet submitted its report, making the installation arbitrary and unacceptable. One union member alleged that the administration was “pushing surveillance without student consent.”

Administration Orders Security Inquiry

University officials called the removal of the device a serious act of vandalism, stating that a formal security report has been sought. The administration said appropriate action would be taken based on the findings.

The episode has reignited a broader debate at JNU over privacy, surveillance practices, transparency and student rights, setting the stage for renewed confrontation between the administration and students.