Comcast Reveals Data Collected by Its Motion-Detecting Routers

Comcast has unveiled a new feature called Xfinity Shield, which allows users to transform their routers into motion sensors. This announcement has sparked a wave of concern and frustration among customers.

One user expressed their discontent on a community forum, stating, “I am not enabling this. I am also seriously considering replacing my leased gateway with my own equipment, because a device I do not control sitting in my living room measuring the motion of my family is not a feature I asked for.”

A significant part of the unease stems from a clause on the support page for the WiFi Motion feature, indicating that Comcast may share motion-sensing data if legally required, raising privacy concerns. Additionally, there’s a general distrust towards the company itself.

The WiFi Motion feature utilizes the activity of Wi-Fi signals between newer Xfinity Gateways and connected devices to detect movement in your home. It does not rely on cameras, nor does it capture images, video, or audio. However, it comes at a time when there are heightened concerns about data privacy, especially regarding how authorities access information from private companies.

According to Comcast spokesperson Meagan Sloan, “When enabled by the customer, WiFi Motion keeps a record of motion activity within the Xfinity app up to 7 days.” She also noted that if the company receives a valid subpoena or court order, it may be obligated to disclose information generated by WiFi Motion in accordance with the law.

Customers are also worried about the possibility of the feature being activated without their consent and the nature of the data being collected. When asked if Comcast could remotely enable the feature or view data in real time, Sloan clarified that “WiFi Motion is opt in only by a customer,” and assured that “No, Comcast does not monitor customers’ motion activity or notifications in real time,” though she did not confirm whether the company has the technical capability to do so.

Sloan explained that the motion activity data is stored in the cloud for up to seven days, allowing users to check recent activity through the app. The data includes information about motion events, such as “Motion detected by LG TV” or “Motion detected by Hallway smart speaker,” but does not capture images, video, audio, or personal identifiers.

To mitigate false alerts, there’s a pet sensitivity setting designed to prevent pets under 40 pounds from triggering notifications, although it cannot differentiate between pets and people. Instead, it assesses size, noting that larger objects disrupt signals more than smaller ones. This means it may not be entirely accurate, especially for children under 40 pounds, but it can indicate whether someone is present in the home.

Wi-Fi sensing can penetrate walls, and Comcast specifies that the feature requires fixed Wi-Fi devices that are always powered, excluding phones and laptops. During setup, users can select which devices will detect activity, which theoretically allows for tracking movement throughout the home based on which devices register motion.

While Comcast emphasizes that WiFi Motion is entirely opt-in and can be toggled on or off, those who prefer not to rely on this setting can switch their Xfinity Gateway to bridge mode and connect a third-party router. In this configuration, WiFi Motion will not function, as it only operates between devices connected to the Gateway.