Hacker News Reader

Comment by GlenTheMachine | Hacker News Reader

Is it just me, or does this seems like a really, really bad idea? The privacy implications here seem… disturbing.

Technology can't be stopped by individual engineers refusing to invent it, it can only be stopped by everyone agreeing on the ways it shouldn't be used. So it was for arson (fire), homicide (every weapon since the rock), and obscene material (all communications technology), and so must it be for privacy and the various techniques of monitoring us.

Even then it isn't stopped; once something exists someone will eventually use it, and likely in way not intended by the designer.

Since 802.11bf makes most existing walls transparent, it should lead to innovation in wall construction.

It may also increase market demand for light-based wireless networking (Li-Fi) which has the advantage of being stopped by existing walls.

People will need indoor cell repeaters to undo what's done by their shielded walls.

Hopefully light-based networking gains mass-market traction.

First Li-Fi tablet was announced at CES 2022, https://electronics360.globalspec.com/article/17597/first-li...

This might be beneficial. If people get used to a mini-repeater in each room, dead spots of signal in houses and flats will go the way of the dodo.

> innovation in wall construction.

You mean like how we got ourprivacy back through innovation in web browsers?

Also we already have wifi-proof paint.

I think future home privacy will go beyond blinds. We will be lining the walls in RF blocking sheets.

RF shielding materials: https://mpkb.org/home/special/emf/protective_materials & https://www.eiwellspring.org/shielding.html

QuietRock 530RF drywall will block sound and RF, https://www.buildsite.com/pdf/pabcogypsum/QuietRock-530-Inst...

Honest question: is wrapping a home in a Faraday cage even plausible?

Or on a room level? How do you control for RF leaks? How do you handle windows and doorways?

I’m fascinated.

Room example, https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipM0GkLosTlvxisP4s4DfueX...

Windows = RF-blocking conductive mesh: copper (expensive) or nickel-copper-polyester.

It isn't just you, but it should be. The privacy implications are potentially disturbing and need to be address (I have no idea how). However there are also a lot of real uses for this that will make your life better. Some of those are things we haven't thought of yet.

What sort of real uses?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com