After draping a white sheet over himself to baffle surveillance cameras—a plan that didn't exactly go to plan—YouTuber Chris the Producer has taken a different tactic. He is now utilizing a custom-built anti-surveillance device consisting of a massive TV strapped to his back. According to Chris, "This is the only device... that allows you to legally evade America's surveillance system."

The Tech Behind the Stealth Setup

The hardware involved in this anti-surveillance device is as heavy-duty as it sounds. The setup requires a chest-mounted action camera and a tactical backpack with a frame mounting system. An industrial battery pack sits between the backpack and a "massive TV" fitted to the rear.

The goal is simple: the camera streams live footage to the screen on his back, displaying exactly what is in front of him. As Chris explains, "It's essentially a giant backpack with a camera on one side that live streams to the TV mounted on my back, therefore obscuring my body and face, making me entirely invisible."

While I am skeptical about being "entirely invisible," the creator notes the tech "works pretty well on dogs," which he claims are "basically the same thing" as surveillance cameras.

Breaking Down the Cost of This Anti-Surveillance Device

If you are looking to build your own version of this anti-surveillance device, be prepared to empty your wallet. The cost of the components adds up quickly:

  • GoPro with chest mount and cords: $400
  • TV (stolen from family): $250
  • North Face backpack: $110
  • Super-heavy New Yeti 1500 battery pack: $1,500

According to his video description, the project "kinda set me back a bit but I did evade surveillance cameras for a few hours." To make the system truly effective, Chris noted that an ideal setup would be double-sided so he wouldn't constantly have to keep his back to the cameras. However, upgrading to a dual-screen system bumps the total cost to approximately $3,000.

The Ultimate Way to Avoid Cameras

Is it worth the investment? Personally, I’ll stick to my "big brain" solution: simply avoiding leaving my apartment. Cameras can't see what isn't there, and it is the easiest way to combat the ever-encroaching panopticon.

Though, as digital surveillance continues to expand, even that might not be enough. To the fields we go, I guess.