Think Flock is bad? This new tech is coming to link license plates with your phone — and it could be another death knell for privacy

Flock has been facing scrutiny over its nationwide network of license plate readers in the US, but an even more concerning technology is on the horizon. SignalTrace, developed by security firm Leonardo, takes the concept of Flock and adds sophistication by identifying devices in a vehicle, linking them to a person even without visible license plates.

The system works by capturing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals from various electronic devices that are constantly broadcasting data. By linking these signals to specific vehicle combinations over time, SignalTrace creates an "electronic fingerprint" that can help law enforcement track vehicles and their occupants. This approach, described as a more advanced version of license plate scanning, raises privacy concerns and questions about potential misuse.

Security experts are still evaluating SignalTrace's capabilities and implications, but some research suggests that even anonymized location data can uniquely identify individuals. The technology could shift surveillance practices by focusing on patterns of movement and proximity rather than individual identification. While SignalTrace is not yet widely deployed, security researchers are questioning its potential impact on privacy and the possibility of innocent individuals being caught up in investigations.