AI Cameras in Brazil: A Tool for Safety or a Step Toward Control?

In São Paulo, a man on a bike robbed Erick Coser at gunpoint after learning his phone’s access code. The attacker fled through favelas, stealing more from others before police tracked him down—but not through facial recognition. Instead, Coser’s own startup, Gabriel, helped using license plate scans and street cameras. While the system missed the bike’s plate that night, it later linked the crime to the suspect. Gabriel now tracks millions of plates daily, offering police real-time data to solve thefts and crimes. Most thefts in São Paulo go unsolved, giving thieves little reason to fear consequences. Gabriel’s cameras, with their bright green rings, are everywhere in Brazil’s big cities. Residents and businesses pay about $5 a month for the service, like a security upgrade. Coser argues most Brazilians accept privacy trade-offs for safety. But critics worry about hidden power shifts. Police get live footage, and Gabriel even shares updates via WhatsApp when arrests happen. Yet transparency hasn’t stopped debates. Last year, Rio’s government removed 400 cameras, calling the setup a “Big Brother” without consent.

The startup insists it avoids facial recognition, but critics say it feeds into bigger surveillance networks. Gabriel works with São Paulo’s facial-recognition program and Rio’s military police, who use live feeds in their control centers. Experts warn such tools can be misused. Brazil’s past leaders have spied on judges and journalists, showing how easily systems can turn against people. Gabriel says it’s not responsible for what authorities do with the data—but that’s exactly the problem, opponents argue. Some also question who really benefits. Gabriel’s cameras are mostly in wealthier areas, giving paying customers faster police responses. Brazil’s crime rates have dropped in recent years, yet robbery trends remain uneven. Pablo Nunes, a safety researcher, admits his own building installed one—despite his concerns. “I lost the battle, ” he says. The bigger question lingers: When private companies handle public safety, who’s actually in control?

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