A groundbreaking report reveals that advanced automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) equipped with specialized sensors are collecting far more personal data from drivers than previously known, raising massive surveillance concerns.
The Electronic Fingerprint
Defense contractor Leonardo’s new SignalTrace system—which can be retrofitted onto existing license plate cameras—does not just scan vehicle plates. According to a report by 404Media, the system captures unique Bluetooth identifiers from phones, AirPods, and other smart devices inside the vehicle.
Furthermore, the sensors can detect non-contact RFID signatures, including:
- Vehicle tire air-pressure sensors
- Corporate work badges
- Pet microchips
Algorithms Track Who You Travel With
Leonardo’s technology feeds this gathered data into an algorithm. According to the company’s website, if a specific mix of devices predictably travels together, the system creates an “electronic fingerprint.”
This allows law enforcement to not only identify who a car is registered to, but also pinpoint exactly who is inside the vehicle and map out their relationships based on shared travel patterns. All of this data is stored at Leonardo’s Enterprise Operations Center for future law enforcement use.
Beyond The Highway
Worryingly, Leonardo advertises that these sensors do not even need to be attached to traffic cameras. They can be deployed independently in non-traffic environments, including:
- Railway stations
- Shopping centers
- Major event venues
While Leonardo stated in a press release that the tech “does not decrypt or capture the contents of devices or communications,” privacy advocates are sounding the alarm.
Mass Surveillance and Cyber Risks
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has warned that these massive repositories of tracking data are prime targets for cybercriminals. The EFF noted that few law enforcement agencies are equipped or trained to protect such sensitive databases from evolving cybersecurity threats.
The warning follows a recent Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) advisory, which exposed seven major vulnerabilities—including missing encryption—in other widely used Motorola Vigilant ALPR systems.
