Your phone can tell if you're in a crowded space
A new IIT Delhi study found that Android apps with location access can pick up way more than where you are—they can figure out what you're doing, whether a space is crowded or empty, and even the layout of rooms you're in.
All this is possible just from GPS signals many apps already use.
Researchers built a system called AndroCon
Researchers built a system called AndroCon that looks at nine different GPS details—like signal strength and Doppler shift—to guess if you're walking, sitting, flying, or in a crowded place.
It can even map indoor spaces within four meters, all without needing your camera or mic.
The catch? Any app with precise location access could collect
AndroCon was tested across thousands of kilometers and different phones, nailing environment detection 99% of the time and user activities over 87%.
The catch? Any app with precise location access could quietly collect this info about you—without clear consent.
The researchers urge more transparency about how our GPS data gets used.