When the data ends up inevitably in the state’s hands (almost certainly thanks to the AI company they’re contracting), it is 100% part of the surveillance state. Same reason telecom providers and Big Tech generally is part of the surveillance state; they’ll just hand over data, no questions asked, no warrants provided.

Let’s say I run some video cameras on my property, and I decide that I’m going to mail the contents of those hard drives to my police department every day.

That’s not the surveillance state. That’s just me as a private entity snitching.

MIT is not a public university. It’s private property not much different than my house. You’re generally not supposed to be in most of their buildings unless you’re a student, faculty, or staff, just like you’re not supposed to be at my house unless I invite you over.

I will concede, though, that some lines are blurred. E.g., MIT has a police force.

The other point of my original comment is really just that it seems like the most prestigious colleges have faculty and students that complain about stuff that’s really typical at less prestigious universities.