Privacy-First Student Housing Network
A university housing cooperative replaces surveillance-heavy campus Wi-Fi with a student-owned alternative.
The Context
Students living in Pioneer Housing Cooperative grew concerned about campus network monitoring, data collection, and advertising tracking. They wanted connectivity without compromising privacy.
The Approach
The co-op deployed Citinet across their 80-resident building, creating a private network where students control their own data. No external ISP monitoring, no behavioral tracking, no third-party access to communication patterns.
Technical Implementation
- Private-by-default: All traffic encrypted, no logging infrastructure
- Local services: File sharing, collaborative docs, and messaging run on resident devices
- Transparent governance: Network policies decided democratically by residents
Results
Students report faster local file transfers, zero tracking, and full control over their digital environment. The model is now being replicated in 4 additional housing cooperatives across campus.
“We’re not against the Internet—we’re against surveillance. Citinet lets us stay connected without being a product.”
— Alex Martinez, Pioneer Co-op tech committee
Expansion Plans
The co-op network now connects to nearby student housing via encrypted peer-to-peer links, creating a privacy-preserving campus alternative to institutional infrastructure.