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Australian university(University of Melbourne) used Wi-Fi location data to identify student protestors

⁨36⁩ ⁨likes⁩

Submitted ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨VagueDirector@aussie.zone⁩ to ⁨australia@aussie.zone⁩

https://ovic.vic.gov.au/regulatory-action/investigation-into-the-use-of-surveillance-by-the-university-of-melbourne/

cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/36285135

cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/36285037

Full PDF report.

source

Comments

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  • VagueDirector@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    [deleted]
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    • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      No, its a reminder to turn on the built in security features in your devices like per use MAC address randomization.

      I dont know how it is on stock android, but when you turn on normal MAC randomization for a connection, then it will create a random MAC for that network but it will stay the same for that network indefinitely. So you could still be tracked across campus. To prevent that you need to turn on this setting show in the screenshot which will randomize the MAC every time you reconnect to a network with randomization enabled.

      Image

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      • quinkin@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        These aren’t open wifi connections where any of this would help, you connect using your university credentials.

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    • zero_gravitas@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      No idea what the protest in question was about

      The protests were in relation to Palestine/Israel:

      • theguardian.com/…/university-of-melbourne-surveil…
      • …org.au/…/unimelb-staff-statement-on-the-right-of…
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  • zero_gravitas@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    This isn’t as directly tied to people’s identities, but trams in Sydney also collect device data via wifi: www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-18/…/104559538

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    • Taleya@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Never. Connect. To public. Wifi.

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      • zero_gravitas@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        You don’t - and can’t - connect to wifi on the trams. It doesn’t provide an internet, it just logs devices that have their wifi turned on and scanning for wifi networks.

        From the article:

        To opt out of the trial, passengers must either have wi-fi capabilities turned off on their devices before they get on the light rail or give their MAC address within three hours of it being collected by filling out an online form.

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    • eureka@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      ffs I thought having my WiFi off in public was being overly cautious. Now even the public transport is monitoring it.

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