New ABA book taps leading authorities to discuss the emerging legal issues of smart technology

CHICAGO, May 14, 2019 — Just published by the ABA, “The Internet of Things (IoT): Legal Issues, Policy, and Practical Strategies,” explores the benefits, challenges and risks of IoT and assesses the multitude of legal issues of omnipresent smart technology. While connected cars, industrial systems and even watches and refrigerators provide efficiency and convenience in modern life, these technologies are some of the most vulnerable targets for hacker attacks. With the introduction of IoT technologies into the daily lives of consumers, they are also expressing concern about privacy violations.

Edited by Cynthia H. Cwik, Christopher A. Suarez and Lucy L. Thomson, the book is the first comprehensive legal text focused on IoT. With an interdisciplinary approach, it features chapters by some of the leading authorities on IoT, including a foreword by Michael Chertoff, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and a reflection on IoT by Senator Mark Warner, who serves as vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The book includes chapters from practitioners, academics and policymakers who provide insights and practical guidance on the latest legal, legislative, regulatory and liability issues of the IoT transformation.

 “The Internet of Things (IoT)” delves into the issues attorneys, executives, policy-makers, developers and manufacturers, security professionals and consumers must consider, and the actions that lawyers can take to leverage best practices, address security and privacy risks and assess potential liability. This book provides perspectives on public policy and assesses the broad range of legal issues such as licensing, liability, electronic discovery and intellectual property, while addressing the current lack of regulation and potential future regulatory measures.

Cwik is y a Distinguished Careers Institute Fellow at Stanford University. She is focusing on cutting-edge technology issues, including cybersecurity, data protection and privacy, the digital economy and artificial intelligence. She has practiced law at two global law firms, including serving five years as a partner with Jones Day and 15 years as a partner with Latham & Watkins. She served as chair of the ABA Section of Science & Technology Law from 2015-16.

Suarez is a trial and appellate litigator at Williams & Connolly. He focuses on complex litigation, with an emphasis on technology, antitrust and education matters. He has handled IP and technology cases before several U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Suarez has participated in international arbitrations of patent disputes and is a registered practitioner before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Thomson is the founding principal of Livingston PLLC where she helps clients address cybersecurity risks, global data privacy, compliance and risk management. A career white collar prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, she subsequently worked as a senior engineer at CSC, a global technology company. Appointed consumer privacy ombudsman in 25 federal bankruptcy cases, she has overseen the disposition of more than 250 million electronic consumer records.

Editor’s note: Author interviews and review copies of this book are available by emailing Dean Pappas at [email protected]. If you publish a review of this book, please send tear sheets or a copy for our files to Dean Pappas, ABA Book Publishing, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654.

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