New tech adds phone tracking to license plate readers, associating devices with identifiable cars

License plate readers are widely used in the US. A new product marketed to police departments promises to add the ability to sense phones and other devices in passing cars.

By: Nicole M. Bennett, Indiana University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 11, 2026

Words: 1,379

Last Updated: 1 week ago

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By Nicole M. Bennett, Indiana University

Imagine that you share a ride to work with the same colleague most mornings. As it passes by a license plate reader, the camera records the car, which can be linked through vehicle records to its registered owner. Beside it, another sensor detects signals broadcast by devices traveling nearby, such as your phone and your colleague’s smartwatch.

After enough trips, software may treat some of those devices as a recurring …

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