Focus on the BIG picture.
Wednesday, Jun 18, 2025

University of Michigan Ends Controversial Surveillance Contracts Amid Outcry

The institution cancels contracts with undercover investigators following revelations of inappropriate actions against pro-Palestinian student groups.
The University of Michigan has terminated its contract with City Shield, a private security group, after a report highlighted undercover surveillance of pro-Palestinian campus activists.

This decision was made in response to widespread criticism after revelations detailing the nature of the surveillance emerged, including recorded incidents of confrontations between investigators and students.

In an email sent to students and faculty, University President Domenico Grasso stated, "We recently learned that an employee of one of our security contractors has acted in ways that go against our values and directives." He emphasized that henceforth, the university would cease all contracts with external vendors offering plainclothes security services on campus.

Reports indicated that City Shield had been contracted to the tune of approximately $800,000 from June 2023 to September 2024, as part of a broader security spending that exceeded $3 million aimed at managing campus protests related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

The investigators' actions have drawn ire not only from the student body but also from alumni and faculty alike.

Documented interactions showed investigators tailing student demonstrators and exhibiting aggressive behavior.

In some cases, they were accused of verbally assaulting students and engaging in intimidating acts, such as driving a vehicle towards a student, prompting a hasty escape.

Video evidence shared publicly depicted instances where investigators, impersonating individuals with disabilities, displayed erratic behavior while accusing students of threatening them.

President Grasso described the behavior exhibited by the investigators as "disturbing, unacceptable, and unethical." He asserted that the intent of employing these investigators was to maintain campus safety and to provide a rapid response to potential emergencies, reiterating that no student or group should be singled out based on their beliefs or affiliations.

Despite the university's statement, student leaders, including PhD candidate Katarina Keating, expressed their discontent, pointing out that the surveillance appeared to target only pro-Palestinian activists.

Keating described the university's claims as "insulting" and called for further measures, including the removal of non-undercover security personnel and the lifting of campus bans imposed on multiple students involved in protests.

The investigations also played a part in legal actions taken by the Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, who utilized evidence collected by the undercover contractors to charge students with various alleged offenses, including violating bond conditions from prior arrests.

Although Nessel subsequently dropped the majority of charges, the implications of the surveillance and its associated consequences remained a topic of concern.

City Shield has yet to comment on the termination of their contract or the allegations regarding their conduct during the investigations.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
Ethiopian Mother Surprised by Pilot Son on Flight Home After 30 Years of Domestic Work
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Trump Deportation Raids Empty LA Streets
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Oil Prices Dip Despite Middle East Escalation
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
Minnesota Lawmaker and Husband Killed in Targeted Shooting
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
23andMe Founder Reacquires Company in Second Auction
Rising Bond Yields Increase Pressure on Bank of Japan
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
Trump Approves Nippon Steel's $15 Billion US Steel Takeover
Indonesia Cracks Down on Nickel Mining in Protected Areas
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
HSBC Accelerates Chairman Succession as Mark Tucker Prepares Departure
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Man Convicted of Fraud After Booking Over 120 Free Flights Posing as Flight Attendant
Cristina Kirchner Requests House Arrest Citing Assassination Risk
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Justice Department Affirms Presidential Authority to Abolish National Monuments
×