Researchers see through walls with Wi-Fi

[IDemo]

http://www.techspot.com/news/53073-researchers-see-through-walls-with-wi-fi.html

MIT researchers have demonstrated the application of using Wi-Fi signals to track the movements, locations and number of people inside buildings. Dubbed Wi-Vi, the inexpensive and portable "through-the-wall" radar system could have practical applications in law enforcement, search and rescue operations and home security, even if it does present some potential privacy concerns.

While listening in on radio signals transmitted by standard Wi-Fi routers and access points, a Wi-Vi transceiver blankets the area with its own low-power, directional, wireless transmissions. As objects move within the target area, signals are absorbed and reflected differently. The device monitors these slight changes, giving Wi-Vi operators the ability to determine the movements, locations, speeds and the number of moving objects (e.g. people) behind walls.

Wi-Vi can detect objects and humans moving behind opaque structural obstructions. This applies to 8" concrete walls, 6" hollow walls, and 1.75" solid wooden doors. A Wi-Vi device pointed at a closed room with 6" hollow walls supported by steel frames can distinguish between 0, 1, 2, and 3 moving humans in the room. Computed over 80 trials with 8 human subjects, Wi-Vi achieves an accuracy of 100%, 100%, 85%, and 90% respectively in each of these cases.

While Wi-Vi doesn't provide anything that resembles an actual photograph of what's behind a wall, the results are detailed enough to be used for detecting body gestures (e.g. hand waves) with a remarkable amount of accuracy.

Now, it's not as if "They" can't otherwise tell whether you're home or not; if you're like most people, you own a cell phone which can be located quite accurately. You probably even keep the blinds open on at least one window to give your plants some light.

My question is: Would this tech becoming pervasive enough add the inside of your home to the "If You're Not Invisible, You Have No Right to Privacy" domain?

[Buzz Clik]

1. cue the exploding heads

[cantbeserious]

2. The Surveillance State Must End

eom

[Cooley Hurd]

3. This might benefit Google greatly since they already use Wi-Fi for WPS...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_positioning_system

Wi-Fi-based positioning system (WPS, not to be confused with Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is used where GPS is inadequate due to various causes including multipath and signal blockage indoors. Such systems include indoor positioning systems. Wi-Fi positioning takes advantage of the rapid growth in the early 21st century of wireless access points in urban areas. Commercial providers of this type of positioning service include Google,[1] Navizon and Skyhook Wireless.

The localization technique used for positioning with wireless access points is based on measuring the intensity of the received signal (received signal strength in English RSS) and the method of "fingerprinting".[2][3] The accuracy depends on the number of positions that have been entered into the database. The possible signal fluctuations that may occur can increase errors and inaccuracies in the path of the user. To minimize fluctuations in the received signal, there are certain techniques that can be applied to filter the noise.

Of course, they would have to gain access to this info from the individual access points, but imagine if they knew when you were in front of the TV, or the fridge, or just "getting busy" with your SO?

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. I can see the new headlines now:

Cops use drone to blow up house ..."we thought they were waving a gun in the house"

[Recursion]

5. Previously SCOTUS has distinguished based on the source of the radiation

That you don't have a right to privacy in the radiation you emit from your house, but you do if the police are aiming radiation into it and seeing what comes back.

So, if your house is emitting a lot of infrared from the grow lamps you have, they can use that, but they can't shine a UV into your window and see what reflects back. If they keep consistent with that, this would require a warrant (or an tactical situation).

OTOH, if they already know where your wifi router is, in principle this technique could be used with the radiation it's emitting.

[IDemo]

6. A note on the (current) legality of this:

The legality of TTWS technology is sufficiently unclear that ManTech Advanced Systems International, the company that prepared the market survey, recommends those planning to use TTWS equipment seek legal advice in advance.

In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the use of thermal imaging to monitor what's going on inside a private home violates Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches. But as the ability to see through walls reaches the civilian market, this legal boundary is likely to be tested again.

http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/wi-fi-that-sees-through-walls/240157566

[hlthe2b]

7. re: " even **if** it does present some potential privacy concerns"

Geebus....

This loss of privacy almost makes me envy those who lived in previous times...