License plate cameras are monitoring your activities without a warrant.

License plate cameras are monitoring your activities without a warrant.

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      Pandora's box has officially been opened in a way that only existed in movie depictions, and the situation is already getting out of hand.

      Automatic license plate readers (ALPR) provided by surveillance companies are utilizing a technology called SignalTrace, which employs sensors in the ALPRs to extract electronic hardware codes from your smart devices. Even worse, this technology is being marketed to law enforcement agencies, such as police, border control, and various government bodies. It didn't take long for this new technology to be misused, and reports indicate that police are already using license plate readers to track individuals.

      This tracking isn't limited to just your connected vehicle. It extends to smartphones, wearables like smartwatches and smart rings, as well as pets that may have microchips or AirTags in children’s backpacks. It also collects data from your vehicle, making it incredibly complex to disconnect. There are no options to opt-out of this situation, and no safeguards are in place because this technology emerged so quickly. The law hasn’t caught up. Security expert Matt Hurewitz, who is presently the CISO at Ent.AI, remarked on The Drivecast that “the laws are way behind” and emphasized that if we wait long enough, there will be situations affecting people in profound ways, sparking the crucial conversations that need to happen.

      In the latest episode of The Drivecast, we engage with Hurewitz on how this new technology allows the government to create a digital representation of your life without your awareness, and how there is currently no effective way to prevent this from occurring.

      If you're new here, The Drivecast is The Drive's weekly podcast that takes you behind the scenes of major controversies, narratives, and figures influencing the automotive sector, as well as the current state of our roadways. Powered by The Drive's unique insights, original reporting, and exclusives, The Drivecast aims to make everyone an insider.

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      Full Transcript

      Joel: Greetings, everyone, and welcome to The Drivecast. I'm Joel Feder, the Director of Content and Product at The Drive.

      Adam: And I’m Adam Ismail, a senior editor at The Drive.

      Joel: The Drivecast is our weekly podcast where we provide an inside look at the most significant stories, controversies, and influential figures in the automotive sector. Today, we’re addressing how the devices you carry enable law enforcement and the government to track your every move. It's a frightening thought. Time to pull out the tin foil hats.

      Adam: Exactly, Joel. This new type of license plate reading camera goes far beyond its name. It's capable of scraping data from the smart devices you carry, compiling it neatly for law enforcement and government bodies.

      Joel: To clarify, we aren’t just talking about tracking your connected car, right Adam? That topic feels almost played out.

      Adam: No, unfortunately, it extends far beyond that. We’re discussing phones, wearables, infotainment systems, and even your pet's microchip if they have one.

      Joel: Yikes. My dog is definitely microchipped. Who would have thought that AirTags and smartwatches could enable tracking at this level? This issue first came to light last week when Adam reported on it at The Drive, and it certainly sparked reactions. Today, we’re going to delve into what’s happening and have a special guest—security expert Matt Hurewitz, currently CISO at Ent.AI—to help us separate fact from fiction. Also, if you appreciate our work, please give us a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It truly helps us reach a broader audience. Let’s dive in.

      Joel: So Adam, I feel like we’re living in a movie. I say this repeatedly with all the advancements from Elon Musk’s robots to everything happening now; I often ask, “Has no one seen the movie I, Robot with Will Smith?” Many movies depict the realities we’re beginning to face. If my grandmother were alive today and witnessed electric cars and robots, she would be bewildered.

      Adam: Absolutely. During times like these, I often think back to something I came across on Twitter a while back—“It would be nice to experience times that are more precedented,” because technology is evolving so rapidly across all areas of life. We’re just beginning to understand something that I'm sure Matt can comment on: the global implications of automated license plate readers, which have been around for years. Now we have

License plate cameras are monitoring your activities without a warrant.

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License plate cameras are monitoring your activities without a warrant.

The cameras are already in operation, actively gathering data, and there is no configuration, regulation, or option to turn them off that can prevent this.