Leonardo Developing Sensors to Track Phones and Devices at License Plate Readers

Leonardo, a surveillance firm, is engineering sensors for roadside license plate reader networks that would capture Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals from phones, AirPods, and smartwatches. The system would link device identities to vehicles at specific times and locations, creating individual movement profiles rather than vehicle-only tracking. The technology isn't yet deployed widely, but the technical barriers are low and the interest from law enforcement and data brokers is clear.