 Philip K. Dick, the 20th century writer whose science-fiction stories proved prescient, once declared: “My phone is spying on me.” He might have been paranoid then, but he wouldn’t be now. Wi-Fi has become the newest battlefield in the surveillance war. First, researchers showed it could sense bodies and furniture in the dark. Then came “WhoFi,” a variant that can detect the size, shape, and makeup of those bodies. A once obscure technology is now advancing at a disturbing clip. Now comes something simpler – and just as insidious, from Australia. In July 2024, the University of Melbourne used Wi-Fi location data, cross-referenced with CCTV footage, to identify student protestors at a sit-in, reports Simon Sharwood of The Register. This was after the school ordered protestors to leave and warned that anyone who stayed could face suspension, discipline, or police referral. Despite the students’ misbehavior, the Victoria state’s Information Commissioner investigated this use of technology, citing possible violations of the 2014 Privacy and Data Protection Act. The final report cleared the university’s CCTV use but found its Wi-Fi tracking out of bounds. Why? Because the school had never clearly disclosed this purpose in its Wi-Fi policies. The Commissioner reports: “Even if individuals had read these policies, it is unlikely they would have clearly understood their Wi-Fi location data could be used to determine their whereabouts as part of a misconduct investigation unrelated to allegations of misuse of the Wi-Fi network.” The Commissioner called this “function creep.” Or as we would say, mission creep. Whatever the name, it’s a serious problem. Surveillance technologies rarely stay in their lane. Once deployed, they inevitably “creep” unless nailed down by clear rules, ethical guardrails, and organizational cultures that prize transparency over convenience. To its credit, the university cooperated with the investigation and promised reforms. But let’s be fair, the University of Melbourne isn’t unique here. We’re all naïve about the countless ways our gadgets betray us. And it’s not just CCTV. No one should be shocked when cameras are used as surveillance tools. It is far less obvious that almost every modern technology can be repurposed to follow us wherever we go. Yes, Virginia, Wi-Fi tracks location. It always has. And whenever location data is on the table, the odds of being spied on shoot through the roof. What else relies on location data? Practically everything with a battery. If you want to reduce your surveillance footprint, you can’t rip down the cameras – but you can shut down your phone, smartwatch, Fitbit, smartglasses, and every other blinking, beeping device. Or better yet, leave them at home. With the possible exception of pacemakers, of course. Comments are closed.
|
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed