Invisible Layer: Understanding the Sensors Behind Your Smartphone

Invisible Layer serves as a vital tool for recognizing the extensive data collection capabilities embedded within personal smartphones. This project is an innovative compilation of 44 browser-based experiments designed to utilize your phone's built-in sensors and browser APIs, unveiling the hidden dimensions of physical reality, while empowering users to confront the pervasive issue of digital surveillance.

The Value Proposition

In a digital landscape where behavioral models are drawn from an astounding 450 million data points per user every day, users often remain unaware of the significant details tracked without explicit consent. Invisible Layer addresses this gap by offering vivid insights into what devices collect about users daily and what entities know about them. This project is not merely an application; it serves as a mirror, allowing users to witness the silent operations of data collection happening in their very own devices.

Key Features

• Experiments: Each experiment provides an answer to the question: What is your phone already measuring that you didn't know about? These experiments include:
  • Electromagnetic & Radio: Investigating signals and fields with tools like Bluetooth LE scanners and WiFi density maps.
  • Acoustic: Utilizing the microphone to detect a range of audio phenomena, from full spectrum FFT to infrasound.
  • Motion & Structural: Leveraging accelerometers and gyroscopes to reveal motion patterns, gait biometrics, and even floor levels.
  • Light & Optical: Analyzing light through cameras to detect flickers or measure screen dimming.
  • Biometric & Body: Understanding personal identifiers through facial recognition and fingerprint scanning.
  • Meta Layer: Analyzing passive telemetry and revealing broader behaviors through aggregated data.

Browser-based Experience

Invisible Layer is built for simplicity and accessibility, running entirely locally in the browser. There’s no need for app installations, accounts, or the collection of personal data—just pure observation:

# Open on your phone
https://rfi-irfos.github.io/invisible-layer/

Warning: Only the Beginning

While Invisible Layer showcases the 9 sensors currently supported, it acknowledges the extensiveness of data that can be sensed by smartphones, and invites users to explore beyond this demo and understand their devices more comprehensively. For users eager to see the complete range of sensors, Phyphox, an open-source project, is recommended for in-depth analysis.

Conclusion

Invisible Layer is an essential initiative that raises crucial questions about digital consent and privacy. With its straightforward local setup and engaging experiments, it encourages users to reflect on their digital footprint and the larger implications of data tracking in modern society.