A Canadian software engineer built a camera that tracks police vehicles using license plate data, drawing attention from local police and reigniting privacy debates around automatic license plate readers.
A Canadian software engineer and YouTuber built a camera that tracks police cars using license plate data, then police visited his home to learn more about the project. The device is framed as a personal take on automatic license plate readers, a technology that many communities worry about when it comes to privacy. The episode highlights a wider debate about surveillance networks and who controls the data they collect.
Why it matters: ALPR networks can help solve crimes, but they also pose privacy risks for ordinary people. The incident shows local law enforcement and private individuals pushing the boundaries of this tech in different ways.
What happens next: authorities will likely review the device’s capabilities and the creator’s intent, while the public continues to watch how such tools are deployed and governed.
A Canadian software engineer and YouTuber named Anthony Sistilli has built a camera that is designed to track police vehicles using the same kind of license plate reading tech law enforcement uses. He shared a video on Oct. 7 about the project, and according to him, Peel Regional Police showed up at his doorstep on Sept. 20 to ask about the device and his intentions for it.
The setup is described as a personal take on an ALPR system. Standard ALPR networks scan and store vehicle plates to help police investigate crimes, sometimes across state lines. Sistilli says the device is encoded to exclusively track police cars, a pivot meant to test privacy concerns from the other side of the lens. The broader backdrop is a growing debate over mass surveillance cameras and the data they collect about ordinary people.
Flock Safety, a U.S. company behind a widely deployed public safety camera network, has been part of this conversation. The network has grown to include tens of thousands of cameras across many states and has faced scrutiny over privacy, data handling, and how its system can be queried by various departments. Critics argue that such networks can amount to a government surveillance dragnet without broad public oversight, while supporters say they help reduce crime. The story about Sistilli’s project comes against that backdrop.
In his videos, Sistilli discusses the irony of law enforcement expressing privacy concerns about a tool that itself relies on camera data. He notes that the debate around ALPR networks includes worries about misuse, data security, and what happens when sensitive information is accessible to the wrong people. Meanwhile, there have been incidents reported where data from similar networks were misused or exposed, leading to public pushback and some contract suspensions in major cities.
Peel Regional Police confirmed they visited the creator, but as with many such projects, the investigation into his device’s scope and purpose is ongoing. The exchange illustrates a broader question many readers may recognize: how do we balance the benefits of surveillance tech for safety with the risks to privacy and civil liberties?
You're reading the quick version.
iOS 27 brings AI-driven video descriptions to HomeKit, yet storing footage across several cameras may push iCloud+ bills higher than expected.
Daiichi Kosho says Nippon Columbia malware may have exposed personal data for up to 8.7 million customers and employees, though passwords were not affected.
Thumb drives may feel convenient, but they’re fragile and unreliable for long-term storage. Here’s how to protect what’s on them.
The Daily Brief
Every morning, the news that matters from AI, phones, apps and the people shaping tech. Explained in plain English. Free.
One email a day. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy
