Imagine being identified not by your face or voice, but by the way your body disturbs Wi-Fi signals. That’s exactly what researchers at La Sapienza University of Rome have achieved with a groundbreaking system called WhoFi. This new identification method uses changes in wireless signals—without any cameras, microphones, or wearable devices.
How WhoFi Works
Wi-Fi signals naturally travel through and bounce around indoor spaces. When a person enters a room, their body slightly absorbs or alters these signals. Since each person’s shape, size, and movement pattern are different, these interactions create a unique signal signature.
WhoFi captures these signal changes by analyzing factors like signal amplitude and phase. A neural network is then trained using a dataset called NTU-Fi, a benchmark in Wi-Fi sensing research. With this training, WhoFi can re-identify individuals with up to 95.5% accuracy, even when they move across rooms or different indoor environments.
A Privacy-Sensitive Alternative?
Unlike traditional surveillance tools such as cameras or microphones, WhoFi does not collect images or sounds, making it potentially less intrusive. This could appeal to those concerned with visual and audio surveillance. However, ethical concerns still remain. Since WhoFi can detect and track individuals without their awareness, it raises questions around consent, monitoring, and covert surveillance.
Although the researchers clarify that WhoFi doesn’t collect biometric data, the risk of misuse exists—especially if deployed without safeguards in homes, offices, or public areas.
Possible Applications
While WhoFi is still in the research phase, its potential uses are vast. It could power contactless security systems, enable health monitoring for elderly individuals, or support smart home technologies that adapt to who is present. The technology could even find its way into smart cities, offering convenience without visible surveillance tools.
What’s Next?
As WhoFi and similar technologies develop, regulations will be essential to balance innovation with privacy. Transparent guidelines, user consent, and data protection measures must accompany any commercial use. The promise of Wi-Fi-based identification is real, but so is the need to use it responsibly and ethically.
In the age of invisible tracking, WhoFi represents both a technological leap—and a societal challenge.
