Leonardo's SignalTrace system links smartphones and other wireless devices to license plates by correlating Bluetooth/Wi-Fi signals detected near automatic license plate readers with vehicle registration records. Over time, recurring devices traveling together with a known vehicle can be matched to an electronic signature, enabling investigators to track individuals even without knowing their plate number. While deployed in locations like Oxon Hill, Maryland, it is not yet an established police practice.
Background
Automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) are widely used by law enforcement across the US. This technology adds a new dimension by pairing wireless device detection with vehicle identification, raising privacy concerns about mass surveillance and the erosion of anonymity in public spaces.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Aug 11, 2026 at 09:15 PM
- Score
- 6.0 / 10