Bravo! I’ve been critical of the President’s silence on the IoT, especially in light of how frequently the Chinese premier mentions it — and spends money on it.
Now the FTC has broken that silence, with announcement of a Nov. 21st workshop in DC on the Internet of Things’ implications for privacy and security.
Specifically, they are looking for comment on the following questions:
- What are the significant developments in services and products that make use of this connectivity (including prevalence and predictions)?
- What are the various technologies that enable this connectivity (e.g., RFID, barcodes, wired and wireless connections)?
- What types of companies make up the smart ecosystem?
- What are the current and future uses of smart technology?
- How can consumers benefit from the technology?
- What are the unique privacy and security concerns associated with smart technology and its data? For example, how can companies implement security patching for smart devices? What steps can be taken to prevent smart devices from becoming targets of or vectors for malware or adware?
- How should privacy risks be weighed against potential societal benefits, such as the ability to generate better data to improve health-care decisionmaking or to promote energy efficiency? Can and should de-identified data from smart devices be used for these purposes, and if so, under what circumstances?
The commission is requesting written comment on these and other issues by June 1st.
Bravo!
