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Belgian Artist Creates Instagram Surveillance Tool

The latest project from artist Dries Depoorter is called “The Follower”, and it’s a frightening glimpse into the world of public surveillance.

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belgian artist creates instagram surveillance tool
Twitter (@DriesDepoorter)

How often have you or your friends posed for an Instagram photo in public? Whether you’re on vacation or fooling around outside your favorite restaurant, we’re guessing the answer is most likely “a lot”. Well, if that’s the case, you might just end up as a subject in artist Dries Depoorter’s latest project, called “The Follower”.

The sinister-sounding creation was born after Depoorter noticed someone taking a lot of public Instagram shots:

“One day, I saw a person taking photos for like 20 minutes, and I was trying to find them on Instagram a day later without much success. That’s when I started building the software,” says Depoorter.

Thanks to the facial recognition software built by Depoorter, which crawls through footage from open webcams live streaming in public spaces, he quickly found a video of the Instagrammer in question when he posted shots onto the Meta-owned platform later that day.

The project is a fascinating (and terrifying) glimpse into how much information can be gathered using modern software — especially as the artist only had access to publicly available cameras. Depoorter’s work highlights the sheer scale of the world’s surveillance network and the enormous volumes of data we give away daily for AI bots to analyze.

Also Read: How To Permanently Delete Your Instagram Account

Depoorter has a history of projects like “The Follower”. In 2021, he created a similar piece of software that scanned the live streams of Flemish government meetings, using AI to search for politicians scrolling through their smartphones out of apparent boredom. The project was known as “The Flemish Scrollers” and automatically tagged the targets via Twitter.

As Depoorter points out, he isn’t the only one with access to these cameras, and it’s genuinely scary to imagine the surveillance tools the world’s government agencies have at their disposal. Next time you take selfies in a public place, check over your shoulder — you might be being watched!

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DJI Teases Dual-Camera Osmo Pocket 4P For 2026 Launch

Though most technical claims for the new gimbal come from industry leaks rather than DJI’s own announcement.

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dji teases dual-camera osmo pocket 4p for 2026 launch
DJI

DJI has teased a dual-camera version of its Osmo Pocket gimbal, confirming that the Osmo Pocket 4P will launch in 2026. The teaser image is the company’s first preview of the device, following months of speculation about a more advanced model in its pocket camera range.

The image shows a slightly larger device than the existing Osmo Pocket 4, with two camera modules mounted above a compact three-axis gimbal. Reports suggest one camera may use a 1-inch sensor paired with a wide-angle lens, while the second may carry a 3x zoom lens — though DJI has not officially confirmed any of these details.

According to leaks circulating ahead of the launch, the Osmo Pocket 4P could support 4K video at up to 240 frames per second, offer 14 stops of dynamic range and include 10-bit D-Log color support. Those features are commonly used by filmmakers who require greater flexibility during color grading and post-production. Reports also point to Hasselblad color tuning, continuing a partnership that has already appeared in some of DJI’s drone cameras, along with up to 128GB of built-in storage that would reduce reliance on external memory cards during longer shoots.

Also Read: AltoVolo Releases Sigma Footage & Sets Date For Demonstrator

The device is expected to retain features from the existing Osmo Pocket 4, including a three-axis mechanical gimbal, updated ActiveTrack subject tracking and a flip-out touchscreen display. The Osmo Pocket line is aimed at content creators, vloggers, and independent filmmakers seeking compact equipment that can produce usable footage without a larger camera system.

DJI has not provided pricing or a specific launch date beyond the 2026 window. Industry observers expect the Osmo Pocket 4P to cost more than the standard Pocket 4 because of the dual-camera setup and expanded recording capabilities, though no figures have been disclosed. So far, most of the technical detail circulating around the product remains tied to leaks rather than official confirmation.

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