For once that's not all that schizo. I remember reading similar papers in like 2018 and I think there was one in 2013 as well, using mobile phone data and wifi routers. Now they added AI-techniques, because of course they did. The principle has been known for a while, and combined with the multifunction sensors everyone is wearing in their pockets all the time, it's really scary. Now, the actual reconstruction of this data isn't all that easy and can't be easily done en masse, but the sheer extend of possible surveillance methods without anyone even having to bug your house is staggering these days.
Another fun one I remember was using audio data from the phone to reconstruct keyboard inputs from the typing noise. Basically an audio keylogger.
And so much camera tech. Remember Minority Report where everyone had their faces scanned all the time? It's already done, or can be done, but way less obvious than in a movie.
The only thing that saves us from truly Orwellian total surveillance is lack of processing power for all of that, and hopefully lack of interest.
However, they don't need to observe everyone all the time, as in Orwell they need the people to know that they could be under surveillance at any given time. Panoptikon.
Also, once you're suspicious you can be then easily be tracked at all times.
The good news is that at the moment all these methods require software alterations and massive data streams from your devices. It might be easily recognized once it happens. But the mass surveillance dystopia is disgustingly close, and we chose to use more and more devices that make it all even easier.
I never thought I'd write the sentence "Taylor Swift is employing mystery school rules on KiwiFarms" now I look crazy to me
Really makes you think, doesn't it.
