Canadian YouTuber builds 'Flock-like' camera to exclusively track police vehicles
Canadian YouTuber Anthony Sistilli says police questioned him after he built an ALPR camera designed to track police vehicles, leading to an ironic discussion over the privacy risks of mass license-plate surveillance.
Canadian YouTuber Anthony Sistilli built a camera with automatic license plate recognition technology to exclusively monitor police vehicles. On September 20th, two police officers arrived at his doorstep in Brampton, Ontario, inquiring about the purpose of the device. Sistilli explained that his concerns paralleled the privacy issues ordinary citizens feel about surveillance, given the recent proliferation of ALPR cameras operated by law enforcement.
The Flock Safety company, which operates the largest centralized surveillance network in the United States with over 120,000 cameras, has faced significant backlash over its massive government surveillance without public vote or oversight. Critics claim the network, which includes 335,701 cameras in Canada, has led to privacy violations and stalking incidents.
After Sistilli's video went viral, Peel Regional Police visited his home, expressing concern over the potential misuse of the information. Sistilli highlighted that his camera's exclusive focus on police vehicles mirrored the privacy worries of citizens regarding blanket surveillance. This led to several municipalities, including Los Angeles and Fullerton, suspending or canceling their Flock contracts due to citizen privacy concerns.
Sistilli's video also exposed Flock's aggressive marketing tactics and the company's data collection practices, which opponents argue lack proper safeguards.
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