A recent project has demonstrated that traffic signals can be monitored using $5 microcontrollers, sparking both admiration for its low-cost ingenuity and concern over privacy implications.
The system relies on ESP32 chips, which cost around $5 each, to detect and track the MAC addresses of nearby devices. By analyzing the movement of these devices, the system can infer traffic patterns and signal timings. While the technology is impressively simple and affordable, critics warn that broadcasting MAC addresses raises serious privacy issues, as it could enable tracking of individuals without their consent.
Tags: #tech #privacy #opensource #hardware #hackernews #surveillance #embedded #Shorts