A new study from Carnegie Mellon University (USA) has just caused a stir in the technology community when it showed that standard Wifi portable sets can track human location in the home through the analysis of wireless signals.
The team's experience has proven that Wifi signals can work like a sonar, responding to changes in space and creating a moving image in the room. When combined with artificial intelligence (AI), the technology can pinpoint the location of each individual, even if they do not carry any electronic devices, according to Uniladtech.
Even though it doesn't use cameras or microphones, this tracking capability raises big questions about privacy. Another study from the Petroleum University of Southwest and the University of Science and Technology of Electronics China warned: Wifi can collect sensitive data such as movement, location, and even breathing rhythm of users.
A bigger concern is that some devices may activate the default motion tracking feature, leaving users unknown. However, some companies such as Xfinity have proactively set the Wifi Motion feature to the default turned off mode, which only works when users are activated through the application.
In an interview with MIT Technology Review, Mr. Ray Liu - founder of Origin wireless, Former President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) - shared: "This is a technology that can change the world. But if we consider it from a social perspective, we need to establish a clear boundary so as not to violate the privacy of users.
