● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 neutral
Leonardo's SignalTrace links mobile device signals to license plate readers for tracking
Key points
- SignalTrace links device signals (Bluetooth, RFID) to license plate data.
- The system identifies groups of devices moving together with vehicles.
- It allows tracking of movement patterns without initial identity knowledge.
- Leonardo states SignalTrace does not identify people directly.
New Surveillance Capability
Leonardo, a security company, has developed SignalTrace, a system designed to work in conjunction with automatic license plate readers. This technology records vehicle information and simultaneously detects signals from nearby devices such as phones and smartwatches.
How SignalTrace Functions
SignalTrace software processes repeated associations between device signals and vehicles. Over time, it can establish an electronic signature for devices linked to a specific car. This allows investigators to track a device's movement patterns, even if it later appears with a different vehicle, providing clues for investigations without immediate identification of the device owner.
Implications for Investigations
The system enables police to emphasize tracking people's movements and associations before their identities are known. SignalTrace can recognize groups of consumer devices that regularly move together, associating them with license plate records and time-stamped locations. This pattern can then be searched even without a known plate number.
Current Deployment and Company Stance
SignalTrace is a marketed capability, with reports indicating installations in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Leonardo's predecessor technology is also listed on an official New York state contract price list. The company maintains that SignalTrace "does not identify people" and "only collects electronic signatures" from broadcast signals, requiring corroboration through traditional investigative methods.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Leonardo's SignalTrace system integrates with automatic license plate readers to associate mobile device signals with vehicles and their movements. This technology allows investigators to track patterns of movement and associations before identifying individuals, potentially shifting police investigative methods.