> For network operators, it raises a different question: could the infrastructure that already generates subscriber revenue also generate a second, sensing-based revenue stream?

Are there people who experience positive emotions in reaction to sentences like these? I just… even in my days when I thought social good came from states/organizations downward rather than from humans upward… even then, when I thought a God’s-eye view was achievable, that more and better measurable data were the way to get there, and that the main barrier to effective social regulation was poor legibility… I feel like even then this would ring craven and avaricious to me.

> For network operators, it raises a different question: could the infrastructure that already generates subscriber revenue also generate a second, sensing-based revenue stream?

That's kind of strange. What are you going to sense that the cellular network doesn't already know? Air traffic? Car traffic? Drones?

The most useful application for this is probably drone detection. We might see this rolled out in China, which is setting up traffic control for the "low altitude economy".[1] This includes drones, now, and flying cars, soon. There's also interest in tracking balloons, traditional hot-air flying lanterns, and other small sky traffic obstructions. As usual, Shenzhen leads in this area.

[1] https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/10/16/chinas-low-altitude-eco...

If you work for an organization whose mission aligns with violating people's privacy, you'd likely be thrilled to take this up the chain to your boss and suggest all sorts of creative uses for it.

I run some fairly large data structures and business software platforms for clients. I'm not impervious to the urge to creatively invent ways to mine their data in ways that would help a client's bottom line and win me a gold star, provided they're data in aggregate. But there have been things I've been asked to mine that I will outright rebel against doing and refuse to touch. This is partly a moral issue, but partly something else: If I appear to be the kind of person who would do that, I'll end up misused myself. If they're the type of client who would do it, I don't want them as a client.

If you disrespect humanity, or life, you disrespect yourself. Whatever comes at you as a result, you bring upon yourself.

This lesson has been demonstrated in every generation throughout history, and never seems to be learned.

The project here itself is a technical issue, but the potential monetization of it is disrespectful to humanity. Unfortunately, at any given time, there are enough sociopaths willing to profit from the worst possible uses of any new technology.

Craven?