Smart City Strategies Must Balance Progress and Privacy, Report Says
In recent years, cities all over the country have taken strides to modernize with emerging technologies that make communities smarter, safer and more connected. And with the rapid evolution of technology, they’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to smart city capabilities. But with data collection and Internet of Things (IoT) devices powering these innovations, there are always concerns about personal privacy.
A recent report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation examines this tension, urging smart city leaders to balance any potential benefits to society against privacy concerns. How can cities continue to innovate without compromising the privacy of their citizens? And how founded are the public’s concerns around privacy? The report argues that there are legitimate issues to consider, but there’s also fear over hypothetical future smart city applications.
“I think a lot of the most realistic concerns about privacy is if data is tied to a specific person, and if you have all these data points, you could potentially put together a profile of a person,” says Ashley Johnson, senior policy analyst at ITIF and author of the report. “Then there are slippery slope fears. We shouldn’t allow governments to use technology in any way they want, but there are protections in place. We have constitutional rights as American citizens.”
The report details several steps government agencies can take to make sure they’re protecting citizens even as they modernize.
