We Need a Common Language for the Internet of Things

When someone tells me they have bought smart light bulbs, an Internet-connected pet cam, or any other Internet of Things (IoT) device, I always get an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. They’re so excited about the affordances or their new IoT devices and apps, but I am skeptical about the privacy and security vulnerabilities. How do I have a conversation about these concerns without coming across as hyper paranoid? Perhaps the answer is that we aren’t quite ready to discuss these issues on a societal level.

Privacy and security advocates all over the world have been talking about the threats that IoT may pose to society – unless standards and regulations are put in place to help mitigate some of these risks. They champion that privacy and security should be built into design and should not come as an afterthought.

While I praise the work that advocates are doing, IoT devices are on the shelves right now and we need to be able to have conversations with everyday folk about what privacy and security risks look like in the digital economy. However, how can we have these conversations when we haven’t yet established understandable and common terms Continue reading