Future 6G networks could let antennas 'see' people through walls
Technology being developed for 6G mobile networks would allow antennas to double as radar-like sensors detecting human movement and even body functions, including through walls — raising privacy concerns among German experts.
The next generation of mobile communications, 6G, may bring more than faster data speeds. According to the German outlet CHIP.de, engineers are developing a technology known as Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), which would let mobile network antennas double as radar-like sensors.
Widespread rollout of the 6G standard is expected around 2030. The core idea behind ISAC is to use existing communications infrastructure not only for transmitting data but also for sensing the surrounding environment — antennas could simultaneously detect the location and movement of people and objects within their coverage area.
Privacy concerns
This capability has already raised concerns among German data protection experts. According to a position paper published by the German Data Protection Conference in June 2026, machine learning methods could theoretically use data from such sensors for more than just detecting movement — potentially recognizing breathing, heartbeat, and even a person's characteristic gait.
Particularly troubling is that the radio signals involved can pass through obstacles such as building walls, meaning it could theoretically become possible to detect the movement of people or objects in rooms not directly visible to the sensor. Tobias Keber, chairman of the conference, warned that if such functionality becomes widely available in mobile devices and base stations, there could be fewer and fewer places where people are fully shielded from this kind of detection. He called for timely regulation of the technology.
Seeking solutions
Researchers are already working on the issue. At the Barkhausen Institute in Dresden, teams are developing solutions built on a "privacy by default" principle. Early prototypes include a physical switch to disable a smartphone's sensor function, as well as an app that could alert users when active scanning is taking place nearby. These proposals are set to be discussed internationally before the final 6G standard is approved.
It is worth noting that 6G is not yet in everyday use. Its gradual rollout is expected around 2030, and beyond higher data speeds and lower latency, it is also expected to bring closer connectivity between smartphones, vehicles, robots and other networked devices.
