A telecommunications company in the UK, in collaboration with local police departments and councils, has implemented a new system to identify suspicious activity on free Wi-Fi kiosks across the country. Any activity deemed suspicious will be automatically blocked, including calls.
BT, the UK’s largest mobile network operator and broadband services provider, recently announced a “new automatic call blocking feature” for all InLinkUK kiosks to prevent misuse of the free calls service provided to the public.
However, the company has not provided specific details about the type of misuse they are targeting, except to classify it as “anti-social behavior.”
According to a press release, local police and city councils will continue to address issues such as substance abuse, drug dealing, related crimes, and anti-social behavior. There have been reports of these kiosks being used for drug trafficking. The system will use an algorithm to analyze call frequency, call duration, and other undisclosed factors. Data will be collected anonymously. The authorities will also provide insights to enhance the call-blocking feature.
Any phone numbers flagged as suspicious by the algorithm will be automatically blocked from using the free Wi-Fi service. Currently, 0.5% of the total numbers called through the kiosks have been affected by this system. Free Wi-Fi can be a powerful tool for equal access, but when surveillance measures are implemented without proper privacy protections or without considering the needs of marginalized communities, it becomes exploitative.
In today’s digital age, “free” often comes at the cost of personal data and attention (see: social media). With these free Wi-Fi kiosks, users become subject to the values of law enforcement and telecom companies, who can mine their data and block usage based on algorithms. This raises concerns about the future of public Wi-Fi and individual freedom.
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