Enhanced License Plate Tracking
The surveillance company Leonardo wants more data:
A surveillance company plans to add sensors to automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) that would mean the devices, as well as capture the license plate of passing vehicles, would also sweep up unique identifiers of mobile phones, wearables, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices in those cars, potentially letting law enforcement identify specific drivers or passengers.
The technology, called SignalTrace, would turn ALPR cameras from devices focused on tracking cars to ones that can more readily track the location of particular people. ALPR cameras have become a commonly deployed technology all across the U.S.; SignalTrace would make some of those cameras capable of collecting much more data.
Yes, it’s bad that more companies are collecting this level of surveillance data. But all of this pales in comparison to the type and quantity of data our smartphones already collect about us.
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Not really anonymous • June 11, 2026 7:28 AM
I think it is past time to get rid of license plates. The bargain has been altered and they now cause more trouble than they are worth.
How do the link the correct cell phones with the car? It seems like that data will be fuzzy, especially for those of us that don’t carry cell phones with us.