ZK-Trace: Certified Collusion Tracing with Zero-Knowledge Credentials for Federated GNSS Interference Monitoring
Catching who leaked a GPS monitoring system without needing their help
When organizations share GPS-monitoring software with multiple partner stations, any one of them might leak it to competitors or adversaries. This paper presents a system that embeds hidden fingerprints into each copy and uses cryptographic verification to identify the leaker afterward—even if they refuse to cooperate. In experiments, the system correctly identified all single leakers and traced over 99% of cases where two people collaborated, while falsely accusing an innocent party less than 0.1% of the time.
GPS signals are critical infrastructure for power grids, financial networks, and autonomous vehicles. Organizations that share monitoring tools with partners need a way to deter and catch people who sell leaked copies to hostile actors. This system makes betrayal traceable without requiring the leaker's consent, which changes the game for protecting sensitive surveillance infrastructure.