YouTuber builds 'Flock-like' camera to track police vehicles, gets police visit

Police are raising privacy concerns about a DIY camera that tracks them, mirroring public worries about surveillance.

Canadian YouTuber Anthony Sistilli built a camera system designed to track police vehicles, employing technology similar to that used by law enforcement for general surveillance. On September 20, 2026, two police officers visited Sistilli at his home to inquire about his project and its purpose. Sistilli highlighted the irony, noting that the officers' privacy concerns echoed those frequently raised by the public regarding the proliferation of Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras. The police reportedly expressed concerns that such anti-surveillance technology could potentially expose details of ongoing investigations to criminals. Sistilli's build uses technology akin to Flock Safety's ALPR systems, which has deployed a significant network of cameras across the United States.

The incident involving the YouTuber and the police highlights a growing tension between citizen surveillance and law enforcement's own concerns about potential counter-surveillance technologies. As ALPR systems become more widespread, individuals are exploring ways to monitor or evade this surveillance, prompting law enforcement to articulate privacy and security risks they might otherwise dismiss. This dynamic could foreshadow increased scrutiny on personal privacy technology and the legal frameworks surrounding surveillance, both by authorities and individuals.

The police's visit raises questions about the legality and ethics of individuals building surveillance tools, even if aimed at monitoring official vehicles. It also underscores the increasing public awareness and skepticism towards mass surveillance infrastructure, such as Flock Safety's expanding network. Future developments may involve legal challenges or policy debates regarding who can surveil whom, and with what technology, potentially leading to new regulations or technological countermeasures.