Airports are spying on passengers via their mobile phones – to try and cut down on queues
Software tracks mobile phones in a certain area based on their Bluetooth and wifi activity. The information is then sent to a control room, where staff use the information to work out queue trouble spots around the airport.
AIRPORTS have started to spy on travellers by tracking their mobile phones.
They are using software to track passengers’ movements so they can cut down on queuing times.
Companies like BLIP Systems in Denmark have invented systems that can track mobile phones in a certain area based on their Bluetooth and wifi activity.
The information is then sent to a control room, where staff use the information to work out queue trouble spots around the airport.
If a queue gets too long, fresh employees are sent to alleviate the problem.
According to Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh airports all use the company’s BlipTrack system.
While this has obvious benefits for travellers, it’s in the airports’ interest too – for starters, passengers are more likely to choose to fly out of an airport they like.
But also, if visitors spend all of their time in line for security then they won’t be able to spend cash at the shops or restaurants.
BLIP Systems said of the system: “With more streamlined check-in and security processes, passengers will inevitably also spend more time in the concession areas, giving the airport’s retailers
the opportunity to maximise non-aviation revenue.”
The software is also being used to control road traffic, as well as in train stations, ski resorts, amusement parks and at public events.
The alerts don’t just tell the businesses where the queues are though – they also help them see how long visitors spend in spots like the eating areas, the car parks and the toilets.
Businesses spying on their customers by mobile phone understandably makes people nervous – but according to BLIP – no personal data is shared at all.
Christian Bugislaus Carstens, BLIP’s marketing manager, told the Independent: “Each mobile device has a unique MAC address which is assigned to the device during manufacturing and cannot be modified.
“MC addresses do not link to any individual user data, thus personal information is not revealed, and no personal data is collected, disclosed or otherwise processed by BLIP Systems, in compliance with the EU directive about privacy.”