Who-Fi Technology Raises Privacy Alarms: Tracks People Using Wi-Fi Without Cameras or Microphones
Who-Fi Technology Raises Privacy Alarms: Tracks People Using Wi-Fi Without Cameras or Microphones
Experimental AI system can identify and monitor individuals through biometric disruptions in wireless signals
A groundbreaking technology called Who-Fi is drawing global attention and sparking privacy concerns for its ability to track people through Wi-Fi signals—without relying on cameras, microphones, or any visual input. Developed as an experimental system and outlined in a research paper published on the preprint server arXiv, Who-Fi leverages artificial intelligence to detect and recognize individuals using only the way their bodies disturb wireless signals.
The system converts any regular 2.4GHz Wi-Fi signal into a biometric scanner. It does this by interpreting the unique way a person disrupts the signal path—a phenomenon known as Channel State Information (CSI). These disruptions form a pattern comparable to human fingerprints or facial features. According to the researchers, this method can be used to identify individuals with more than 95% accuracy, even through walls and regardless of what the person is wearing or carrying.
Unlike traditional surveillance methods, Who-Fi operates without cameras or infrared sensors. It uses a single transmitter antenna and a receiver with three antennas, making the setup cost-effective and discreet. The underlying technology involves transformer-based neural networks—similar to large language models—which are trained to recognize specific biometric patterns created when a person enters a Wi-Fi-enabled space.
Once trained, the system can track a person’s real-time movements, identify individuals who re-enter the network zone after a period of absence, and even interpret sign language. Its capacity to recognize up to nine individuals simultaneously adds to its surveillance potential.
One of the most concerning aspects of Who-Fi is its stealth. Unlike conventional monitoring devices, it does not emit infrared, radar, or visible light. This makes it almost impossible to detect using standard counter-surveillance tools. The system passively senses radio frequency signals, enabling it to operate invisibly.
While Who-Fi is still in the experimental phase and yet to be tested extensively in real-world scenarios, its capabilities point to a future where surveillance could become far more pervasive—and far less visible. As such, it raises urgent questions about the boundaries of digital privacy, consent, and security in a connected world.
