Re:U.S. lawmakers call for privacy legislation after Reuters...
by nitrogen on Monday November 22, 2021 @07:44PM
(#29313374)
distinct expectation of privacy with regards to wavelength
AIUI police aren't permitted to use anything that lets them see through walls without a warrant, and the same should apply to corporations and individuals.
it's sort of on you to take whatever precautions you need to stay safe
In other words, "I'm going to take what I can because you didn't know you didn't lock your door," is that it?
No reasonable non-tech person would look at a wifi router in their closet and think, "I expect waves radiating from this device to pass through the walls of my house and be used by large corporations for tracking purposes." They think, "I plug this in and I can use the Internet on my phone inside my house."
Visible and IR wavelengths don't reach outside through non-windows, because of physics - but I don't think there is any inherent expectation of privacy - quite the opposite. If you leave your front bay window open and people outside can see in, and you call the police for privacy invasion they will laugh in your face in most places - in fact if you are doing something deemed obscene or distasteful you may be the one arrested - and for good reason. They'll tell you to get something to block the light like a curtain.
Whether or not people intend it - wifi signals easily will make it to the street - and they're on shared spectrum. Especially if you're going to pollute the public ISM band - it's sort of on you to take whatever precautions you need to stay safe whether that is better encryption, a faraday cage or just abstaining and finding alternative means.
If you start blasting loud noises 24/7 constantly in your neighborhood and someone complains, is your response going to be well, "I don't intend for this garbage to reach my neighbors"?