Researchers have recently unveiled a novel method for identifying and tracking individuals through Wi-Fi signals, distinctly separate from the typical monitoring of electronic devices. This technology can pinpoint a person and monitor their movements within physical spaces and across different locations by analyzing how their bodies interact with Wi-Fi signals. Previous attempts at this kind of surveillance, dating back to 2020, achieved an accuracy of only 75 percent, which was insufficient for reliable tracking.
The new methodology, however, promises enhanced accuracy and offers significant advantages over traditional surveillance methods like cameras. Notably, it operates independently of lighting conditions and can penetrate walls and other obstacles, making it a powerful tool for identification. The potential applications of this technology are both fascinating and concerning.
On one hand, it could enable benign uses, such as notifying a customer with a coupon upon their return to a store. On the other hand, its sinister implications could threaten privacy, enabling the tracking of individuals, even within their homes, if the associated Wi-Fi data is misused. Currently, the WhoFi system is still in proof-of-concept stages, relying on sophisticated software for implementation.
The researchers achieved these outcomes using the Wi-Fi signals from two basic TP-Link N750 routers, which do not incorporate the newest or fastest Wi-Fi advancements. It is worth noting that while the findings may trigger concerns about privacy violations, the testing conditions were not particularly rigorous. In their study, researchers tracked only 14 individuals wearing regular clothing and backpacks.
Achieving 95 percent accuracy in such a limited sample size may not hold up as substantial evidence in a court of law, but it certainly raises alarms about the ability to monitor individuals for law enforcement purposes.