Large retailers were doing this a decade ago.
Doesn't MAC randomization used by both Apple and Android devices make this redundant?
Doesn't MAC randomization used by both Apple and Android devices make this redundant?
I'm not really sure what the general public would actually do with this data - but they paid for it so they should have access. Even better would be to not collect it at all. Is there some way to increase the cost of collecting/storing data like this so that more municipalities/organizations will just consider stuff like this "not worth it"?
Even in cases where courts have found that the government (or their agents e.g. a police officer) didn't have the authority to surveil the public without a warrant they were able to purchase private data and construct a parallel chain of evidence that didn't involve the warrant-less surveillance.
Edit: I have mixed feelings on this initiative as a whole. "Bike Counters" are frequently used by cyclists, for instance, to argue areas need better infrastructure. The question is how can it be done in a non-invasive way, and this data should absolutely be public if it's being collected
[0]: https://townforms.com/FOIADirect-BrooklineMACitizens/Public/...
Regardless - these are elected officials and their departs using public money for what some might consider surveillance. What's the issue with a little sunshine on how this all works?
I can see why they would choose to do this -- it provides some privacy while not confusing most users (who might have to reauthenticate, or might no longer be in an allow list). I'd prefer to get a new one each time I connected to an SSID but I'm sure I'm in the minority.*
I wouldn't be surprised if every one of these devices had the same SSID. Why not?
* 99.999% of the population wouldn't know a MAC if it bit them on the nose, and I'm sure prefer it that way. Not an unreasonable position to take, TBH.
And that's if you actually joined the network (who joins a billboard's wifi network these days? Celluar data is plentiful even for cheap plans). If not, the only MAC that's sent is a random phone that's reset every scan/15 minutes (forgot which one it was).
It will work for people just passing by.
What does work is sending out btle beacon signals, putting a sdr 5G cell.
The whole market for this kind of tracking is filled with fake data..
That sounds super illegal because the spectrum 5G operates on requires a license to use. You can partner with cell carriers to use their licenses, but why would they partner with you? They'll be quite happy to use their existing infrastructure and hoard the data for themselves.
For example, if your connection is bad, some provider offer indoor 5G stations. Not sure how they deal with the license in that case
Edit: unless you enable "Wi-Fi non-persistent MAC randomization" in developer options (this should be the default imo, and should be a per-network option like persistent randomization and device mac address)
Imagine using this in India where they law requires that every public wifi require a phone number to authenticate before use.