When 6G Becomes a Sensor
PRESS RELEASE
Researchers at the Barkhausen Institut are developing technical concepts to ensure privacy and trustworthiness in future mobile networks.
Data protection authorities are currently warning about potential risks associated with the next generation of mobile communications, 6G. In the future, 6G is expected not only to transmit data but also to sense its surroundings using a technology known as Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). Researchers at the Barkhausen Institut in Dresden have been addressing exactly this challenge for several years by developing technical concepts that enable the technology to be deployed securely, in a trustworthy manner, and in compliance with data protection requirements.
ISAC is considered one of the key technologies for 6G. Rather than serving communication alone, future mobile networks will also be able to sense their environment. Without requiring additional sensor infrastructure, they could, for example, detect vehicles, locate drones, monitor industrial facilities, or support emergency response operations.
These new capabilities also bring new challenges. Unlike today’s mobile communication services, future networks could detect movement or collect other information about individuals even when they are not actively using a mobile device. In a recent resolution, Germany’s Conference of the Independent Federal and State Data Protection Supervisory Authorities therefore called for data protection and the protection of fundamental rights to be considered from the earliest stages of technology development.
This is precisely what researchers at the Barkhausen Institut have been working on for years. They are developing technical methods that make it possible to control, secure, and increase the transparency of ISAC’s sensing functions in communication networks. The goal is not to add privacy safeguards later but to integrate them into the technical foundations of future mobile networks from the very beginning. This approach is known as Privacy by Design.
The research has already led to a number of initial concepts. One example is an on/off switch that smartphone manufacturers could integrate into future devices. It would allow users to completely disable the phone’s sensing function while leaving its communication capabilities unaffected. The researchers have also developed a prototype app that informs users whether sensing is taking place at their current location. In addition, the Barkhausen Institut is developing concepts and recommendations for the design of future mobile networks to ensure that ISAC can be implemented in a privacy-preserving way. This includes, for example, processing only the data that are actually needed and ensuring that access is limited to authorized parties.
“ISAC offers enormous potential, from intelligent mobility to industrial automation. Our goal is to shape this emerging technology in a way that allows society to benefit from its capabilities without creating new risks for privacy and data protection,” says Dr. Stefan Köpsell, privacy expert at the Barkhausen Institut.
The Dresden-based researchers are also contributing their findings to international standardization activities. Together with partners, they participate in working groups of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), which is currently developing key building blocks for future 6G standards. In September 2026, international experts will meet at the Barkhausen Institut to further advance research on privacy, security, and trustworthiness for ISAC.
The Barkhausen Institut was founded in 2017 with the mission of researching trustworthiness in a connected world. The current debate surrounding privacy in 6G highlights just how relevant this long-term research mission has become. Ensuring that technological progress does not come at the expense of fundamental rights requires research that advances innovation and privacy protection together.
Press Contact
Annika Höritz
PR Manager
Email: annika.hoeritz@barkhauseninstitut.org
Phone: +49 173 5327218