Ordinary WiFi can now identify people with near perfect accuracy (www.sciencedaily.com)

Researchers at the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie in Germany have unveiled a groundbreaking technique that enables ordinary WiFi routers to identify individuals with near-perfect accuracy, raising significant privacy concerns. The method works by analyzing how radio waves from WiFi signals interact with their environment, effectively allowing the recognition of people even when they are not carrying a device or have their phones switched off. The system can distinguish individuals based on feedback data transmitted between wireless devices and routers, which is unencrypted and readily available to anyone in range. In trials with 197 participants, the researchers demonstrated nearly 100% accuracy in identification, regardless of angles or movement. This advancement could transform ubiquitous home and commercial WiFi networks into covert surveillance tools, posing risks to individual privacy rights. The technology relies on standard WiFi hardware, making it accessible and easily deployable, unlike previous methods that required specialized equipment. The researchers have called for robust privacy measures in upcoming WiFi standards to safeguard against potential misuse, especially in authoritarian contexts where it could facilitate the tracking of citizens and protests. This development highlights the need for both ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and surveillance technologies.