Engineer Faces Police Inquiry After Building DIY AI Surveillance for Police Cruisers
A Canadian developer created a low-cost AI system to track police vehicles, sparking privacy debates.
1DIY Surveillance Prototype
Software engineer Anthony Sistilli developed a 180-dollar device to identify and log police cruisers in Brampton. Using AI-assisted coding tools, he connected a camera to a laptop to specifically target patrol vehicles. This project serves as a technical demonstration of how easily public surveillance can be replicated by private individuals using accessible hardware.
2Police Inquiry and Interaction
On September 20, 2026, two Peel Regional Police officers visited Sistilli at his home to question his project's scope. They expressed concerns that logging patrol movements could expose shift patterns and personal addresses. Ultimately, authorities determined that no charges were required, though the interaction highlighted tensions regarding private surveillance of law enforcement.
3Technical Processing Architecture
The system utilizes a two-stage detection process to manage high-resolution 4K footage efficiently. First, the software filters for police vehicle characteristics before attempting to read specific license plates. During a one-hour test near Shoppers World, the device successfully captured images of two police cruisers, proving the viability of the custom-built detection pipeline.
4Motivation Behind the Build
Sistilli launched this initiative to challenge the expansion of automatic license plate recognition networks in Canada. He argues that citizens face significant privacy risks from government and commercial surveillance. By tracking police, he aims to show the public what it feels like to be constantly monitored by unchecked, automated data collection systems.
5Municipal Camera Investment
Brampton recently announced an 11.4 million Canadian dollar municipal camera initiative, allocating 2 million dollars specifically for high-resolution ALPR technology. While officials claim these tools assist in solving violent crimes and recovering stolen vehicles, the rapid deployment has triggered significant public debate regarding the necessity and oversight of such extensive urban monitoring.
6Data Security Vulnerabilities
Concerns regarding ALPR technology extend beyond privacy to fundamental data security flaws. Investigative reports revealed instances where hackers recovered 27,000 video files and 1.6 million images from stolen devices. These vulnerabilities were exacerbated by the storage of encryption keys in plain text, raising serious questions about the safety of sensitive law enforcement data.
7Global Pushback Against ALPR
Over 140 cities and counties have moved to reject, suspend, or cancel contracts with ALPR vendors due to rising public criticism. Major jurisdictions like Los Angeles and Fullerton have faced intense pressure to disable existing camera networks. This trend reflects a growing international skepticism toward the unchecked integration of automated surveillance in public spaces.
8Transparency and Accountability Gap
Sistilli highlights a disparity between Canadian and American jurisdictions regarding access to audit logs. While some US regions provide public portals, Canadian citizens have limited information about police database searches. This lack of transparency remains a core driver for activists seeking to hold law enforcement accountable for their use of advanced tracking technologies.