Panel outlines need to balance privacy, innovation with Internet of Things

IoT, Internet of Things, Privacy
Rob Atkinson, president of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, moderates an IoT discussion with Microsoft Chief Privacy Officer Brendon Lynch, Jeff Farrah of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, Mark Eichorn of the Federal Trade Commission and Yael Weinman of the Information Technology Industry Council.

As our world becomes increasingly connected, the Internet of Things (IoT) presents immense opportunity for businesses and consumers alike. Balancing privacy and security with this rapidly developing market of health wearables, connected homes, smart cities and vehicle-to-vehicle communication is imperative. That was the key takeaway from a conversation last week at the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

The @Microsoft conversation, “Privacy & Innovation in the Age of the Internet of Things,” brought together a panel of experts to engage the audience in an exploration of the balance between data minimization and innovation. The conversation touched on the opportunities and challenges that face the IoT and explored ways to ensure a vibrant, reliable and trusted Internet of Things ecosystem – both domestically and overseas.

Microsoft Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs Fred Humphries provided introductory remarks, and Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nevada), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, opened the discussion. Rob Atkinson, president of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, moderated the debate.

During the panel discussion, Microsoft Chief Privacy Officer Brendon Lynch said that we must implement a trust framework for the IoT that includes transparency about the data collected and how it is used. Lynch said he thinks about this equation: “Trust = Privacy x Value x Security,” and if any one of the variables equals zero, then trust will be zero.

Jeff Farrah of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee outlined a recent congressional hearing and what the committee learned about balancing privacy and innovation in the IoT. Mark Eichorn of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, described the FTC’s workshop on IoT and how there seemed to be a real consensus that there is a need for security, and yet a recognition that the security framework for IoT is still immature. Yael Weinman, vice president of Global Privacy Policy and general counsel at the Information Technology Industry Council, discussed emerging trends with the IoT in the U.S. as well as Europe.

Each month, the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in Washington, D.C. hosts the @Microsoft series, featuring panel discussions with members of Congress, administration officials, and leading experts on a wide range of topics. The events are free, open to the public and present an opportunity to engage in policy debates with thought leaders at the highest levels of government. To learn more about this and other events, please follow @MicrosoftIPC on Twitter or visit the Innovation & Policy Center’s Facebook page.

An archived video of the recent discussion is available via Microsoft’s on-demand channel, SLG.tv.

 

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