Image by Erik Wilde, University of Berkeley
Technical issues are often about much more than technology – they are values questions also. That is the clear message I will send today in a speech at the 2nd annual Internet of Things conference in Brussels.
IBM claims that there will be one trillion devices connected to the Internet by 2011. In the future it seems possible that every person and every thing could be connected wirelessly from virtually any position on earth. Such a development should not be taken lightly. There is great potential in the Internet of Things, but also serious privacy and ethical issues. How we develop these networks should depend on our values, not on the technology.
If we want to see the Internet of Things save lives (through eCall for example), help us move around faster and cut our energy use, let’s have a real debate about how we want it to develop. That way the choices we do make will have a lasting positive impact.
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Tags: Internet of Things, Neelie Kroes, privacy
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