Imagine your smartphone or the nearest base station not only transmitting data, but also acting as a radar: picking up radio wave reflections, detecting the presence of people behind obstacles, tracking breathing, and even heart rate. This is precisely the kind of capability scientists are discussing in the context of developing the 6G standard, expected by 2030.
The technology is called Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). The same antennas will be used simultaneously for transmitting information and analyzing the environment. Radio waves, reflecting off objects, will allow for the measurement of distances, movement speeds, and even subtle body vibrations. According to researchers, when combined with machine learning algorithms, the system will be able to recognize people by their gait, guess gestures, and possibly even individual facial features.
This news quickly spread worldwide. The German publication Heute drew attention to the potential of 6G, and then international media picked it up. Germany has already invested around 700 million euros in 6G research, and the issue is not just about internet speed, but entirely new functions: from assisting autonomous vehicles and smart factories to health monitoring and rescue operations.
However, serious concerns immediately followed the technical prospects. In June 2026, the Conference of Independent Data Protection Commissioners of Germany approved a position paper warning that ISAC capabilities are comparable to invisible video surveillance, but with far greater possibilities. The main problem is the lack of need for a person to have a smartphone. The system can scan anyone within its range, and the person may not even be aware of it. Consent and data control become practically impossible in such a case.
Scientists from the Barkhausen Institute in Dresden are already working on protective mechanisms. Among the ideas are a hardware switch that disables sensing functions, leaving only communication, and an application that notifies the user about active scanning nearby. These proposals are planned to be presented to European standardization bodies. International experts will meet in Dresden later this year – there is still time to make changes before the standard is finalized.
The development of 6G presents society with an important choice. On one hand, revolutionary applications in medicine, security, and industry. On the other hand, the risk of creating a tool for total, unnoticeable surveillance. While engineers and regulators seek a balance, the question remains open: how deeply should the network of the future "feel" the surrounding world without crossing the privacy boundary of each person.
The technology is still under development, but the discussion has already moved beyond laboratories. It is precisely now that the principles by which we will live in the 6G era are being laid down.
