Glossary

WiFi Data Capture

WiFi data capture is the process of collecting customer information — typically name, email, mobile number or social-login identity — when a guest connects to a venue's WiFi via a captive portal.

WiFi data capture is the data side of a captive portal: the structured information collected from a guest as a precondition of free internet access. The minimum is usually an email address; the maximum can include name, mobile number, marketing preferences, age range, and social-network profile fields (Facebook, Google).

What gets captured

  • Identity: email, name, mobile number, or social profile (with explicit consent).
  • Behavioural: first-seen date, last-seen date, visit count, dwell-time per visit.
  • Device: hashed MAC address (not personally identifying), device type, OS family.
  • Location / venue: which site / location the guest connected at, and when.
  • (Optional) survey or preference data the splash page is configured to ask for.

Compliance considerations

Capturing personal data via a captive portal is regulated under GDPR (EU/UK), CCPA (California), PECR (UK marketing communications), CASL (Canada) and others. Legitimate practice requires:

  • Clear explanation of what is collected and why.
  • Opt-in consent (not pre-ticked) before any marketing communication.
  • An accessible privacy notice + retention policy.
  • The ability for a guest to request data deletion at any time.

See the GDPR & guest WiFi entry for the audit-trail requirements specifically.

Related

Related terms

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