[LINK] The Internet of Things & Privacy (Part 1)

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

"Connected Tech Raises Privacy Fears"

By Mark Ward Technology correspondent, BBC News 
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25662006> **(9th Jan)**


In the future, it might not just be your smartphone that leaks personal and 
private data, it might be your smart fridge too.

So said experts gathered at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

They debated what happens to privacy and security as the "internet of 
things" begins to emerge.

At CES this year, hi-tech firms have released a plethora of formerly dumb 
products that can gather and share data about what they and their owners 
do.

** Governments will also need to do more to ensure consumers stay in 
control of the data gathered about them, said one attendee. **

"The internet of things is having its breakout year and it is this year 
that it will become a mainstream ecosystem and set of technologies," said 
independent consultant Larry Downes who led a discussion about the topic at 
the conference that runs alongside the show.

Smart lighting systems, Skype-connected baby monitors, a Bluetooth enabled 
meat thermometer and smart ovens were all unveiled at the Las Vegas show - 
suggesting that such devices are about to become commonplace.

"Dealing with the privacy and security aspects of the internet of things is 
going to be one of the biggest challenges we have faced in security for a 
long time," said Marc Rogers, principal research analyst at mobile security 
firm Lookout.

"These technologies will be some of the most intimate we have ever had.

"We are going to be wearing it, installing it throughout our living spaces 
and other places where technology has not usually had the opportunity to 
go."

Good industry practices that have become standard in other areas should be 
useful in helping to develop safe and secure smart appliances, said Mr 
Rogers.

Problems were already starting to emerge as the first net-enabled 
appliances start to hit the market, said Jeff Hagins, founder of home 
automation start-up Smart Things.

Consumers were often not able to dictate what happened with the data that 
smart appliances gathered, he said, adding that often this data had the 
potential to be sensitive and deeply personal. 

"There's a tendency among manufacturers to copy all the data to their own 
cloud," said Mr Hagins.

"Consumers are frequently not being given a choice to control or allow 
that."

Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen from the US Federal Trade Commission said 
governments should not be afraid to act if manufacturers were not living up 
to standards of fairness and disclosure demanded from websites and other 
hi-tech firms.

"It's crucial that companies offering these products that are part of the 
internet of things act to safeguard the privacy of users to avoid giving 
the technology a bad name while it is still in its infancy," she said.

Mr Hagins added that as well as consumers needing to be careful about who 
they were sharing their data with outside the home, they should also be 
aware of the tensions within a family about who gets access to what 
systems.

"Should a child be able to hack the home automation system to flash the 
lights in their sibling's room during the night?" he asked.

"That's something they'll certainly be capable of doing.
--

Cheers,
Stephen


Message sent using MelbPC WebMail Server