Cops Not Happy When Man Creates Flock-Style Camera That Only Collects Police Plates

In September, police officers paid a visit to Anthony Sistilli's residence to inquire about his AI-integrated surveillance camera, designed to track only police vehicles. The Canadian software engineer and YouTuber had been inspired by the controversy surrounding Flock Safety, a surveillance company in the United States. While Canada lacks a centralized surveillance system like Flock, the country's police forces have been rapidly expanding a decentralized network of ALPR cameras.

Concerned about the increasing government surveillance, Sistilli decided to create his own ALPR with a unique twist: instead of monitoring ordinary citizens, his invention was focused on identifying police cars. He ordered a wall-mounted 4K surveillance camera, connected it to his laptop, and programmed AI software to detect and flag police cruisers.

The prototype was tested on his car's dashboard, though the initial footage suffered from lag due to the high resolution and the AI's attempt to distinguish license plates from every single vehicle on the road.

After optimizing the settings, the prototype became operational, allowing Sistilli to observe the technology in real-world settings. However, his creation did not go unnoticed by the local police. Two officers knocked on his door, questioning him about his intentions and expressing concern over the potential privacy implications for the officers, such as their home addresses and patrol schedules. Sistilli responded that he shared the same concerns as civilians about the pervasive nature of government surveillance.

The incident highlights the growing tension between individuals and law enforcement regarding the use of ALPR cameras and the potential for widespread monitoring.