Leonardo US Cyber and Security Solutions is proposing SignalTrace, a new surveillance system designed for law enforcement. The technology detects Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and RFID signals from nearby devices such as smartphones, laptops and smartwatches and can be used alongside automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras.
Although Leonardo says SignalTrace does not identify individuals, recurring device signatures could potentially be linked to a specific vehicle and, through its registration, to its owner. This could allow police to track vehicles even when license plates are changed or hidden.
The technology could provide useful investigative capabilities, but it also raises significant privacy concerns. Innocent people could potentially be monitored simply because their devices repeatedly appear in a vehicle associated with an investigation, highlighting the risk of the system being misused for tracking people’s movements.
Source: Android Authority
