We are in the early stages of a new technological revolution, where everyday objects, such as our appliances, cars, medical devices, and wearables, are communicating with us and with each other. In 2010, for the first time in history, the number of devices connected to the Internet outnumbered the number of humans. By 2020, it is expected that the number of connected devices will have grown dramatically, with some estimating that there will be 50 billion connected devices, or approximately six devices per human on the planet. This issue of The SciTech Lawyer focuses on this fast-emerging technological development, which has been called the “Internet of Things” (IoT). The Section’s theme this year is “The Dawn of a New Era: Navigating Our Brave New World in Science and Technology Law Today and Beyond,” and the explosion of IoT devices in our world is a great example of an emerging technological development with broad ramifications for all of us. Law360 very recently identified IoT as the number one new practice area.
March 01, 2016
The Transformative Power of the Internet of Things
Although the potential benefits of IoT are great, the potential risks also are huge. We already have seen some of the headlines focusing on the risks, such as how hackers can hijack a car’s control system and crash it from miles away, and how a foreign website can peer into your home and your baby’s room by hacking webcams. This issue contains articles addressing a wide range of topics relating to IoT, including an introduction to IoT and why you should care about it, the ethical and legal issues IoT raises for businesses and consumers, novel liability issues relating to autonomous cars, the use of personal health information from networked medical devices, copyright ownership and IoT devices, the relationship between IoT and big data, and security issues associated with IoT.
The Section of Science & Technology Law recently conducted our inaugural Internet of Things National Institute in Washington, DC, which addressed the myriad legal issues associated with IoT. I was pleased to welcome distinguished faculty and participants to the Washington, DC, office of Jones Day (my firm) for two days of insightful and inspiring presentations. We had government leaders, academics, lawyers, judges, and experts from companies such as AT&T, Ericsson, Hitachi, Microsoft, and Google’s Nest Lab come together to explore the legal concerns and challenges surrounding the use of “smart” devices, including critical security and privacy issues.
Keynote speakers included Edith Ramirez, Chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission; Ed Felten, Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and Jim Hood, Attorney General of Mississippi and Immediate Past President of the National Association of Attorneys General. We had participants from 26 states, and we received much favorable feedback on the Institute, including the following comment: “[O]ccasionally, something magical happens in terms of program content and the quality of the faculty, and the IoT was such a program. Congratulations to you and all your colleagues. They each brought their zeal and passion for the subject matter to this outstanding program.”
For our SciTech Profile columns in this issue, which offer insights from leading authorities in different fields about the use of science and technology, I am honored to include my interview of Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA), who is the co-founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Internet of Things Caucus. She has introduced several bills that address issues concerning IoT and updating our privacy laws. The second SciTech Profile features a good friend and colleague, Ian Graham, who has tackled many issues involving complex technology as the General Counsel of BAE Systems Inc., an international aerospace, defense, and security company.
Our Section is having our Annual Meeting on August 4–5 in San Francisco. We are pleased to present these programs: (1) “What’s Next? Tech’s Top Counsel Reveal All!”; (2) “High on Their Own Supply? Legal Issues Facing the Burgeoning New Medical Marijuana Industry”; and (3) “Driverless Cars in the Fast Lane: Liability Ahead!” We are excited to welcome as speakers leading figures in science and technology, including John Place. John is an Internet law pioneer; he has served as the General Counsel of Yahoo! and the Executive Director of Stanford’s Center for Internet and Society. He will be the speaker at our annual luncheon.