A Rutherford County father was banned from the YMCA of Middle Tennessee after questioning its use of underwater AI cameras and starting a petition about the technology, according to News 2.
Dru Kaegi said he first raised concerns with YMCA staff through emails about the AngelEye drowning detection system, which has been installed at 12 YMCA pools across Middle Tennessee. On Oct. 12, he approached YMCA staff and AngelEye employees as they returned to the North Rutherford Family YMCA. Kaegi said the YMCA banned him after the interaction.
Kaegi created an online petition titled “YMCA AngelEye Privacy Petition,” which has gathered more than 1,200 signatures. The petition calls on the YMCA to remove the monitoring system or pause its use until members are surveyed about whether they support it.
The petition raises questions about how video and other data are stored, who can access them, whether recordings are used to train AI or shared with third parties, and whether members can opt out of being recorded. It also questions whether members were adequately notified before the system was installed and whether the YMCA surveyed members about the technology.
Kaegi said he does not want his membership reinstated. Instead, he is asking the YMCA to post signs informing members that AI cameras are in use and to survey members about the technology.
The YMCA says the cameras are intended to provide an additional layer of protection, not replace lifeguards. The system alerts lifeguards through smartwatches when a child has been underwater too long.
In a statement to News 2, the YMCA said it recognizes that members have questions about the drowning detection system and described its installation as part of ongoing efforts to improve pool safety.
The organization said it welcomes constructive feedback but expects members to follow its Code of Conduct. The YMCA also said it may suspend or end memberships when a member’s actions violate that code.
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