Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Networking

    Congress, Government Agencies Putting Focus on IoT

    By
    Jeff Burt
    -
    February 11, 2015
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin
      IoT

      U.S. lawmakers are continuing to cast a wary eye at the rapidly growing Internet of things, understanding the benefits that can be derived while at the same time trying to determine the government’s role in protecting the security and privacy of consumers and their data.

      Last month, House representatives announced the creation of a Congressional Caucus on the Internet of Things (IoT). Two weeks later, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a report stressed that technology vendors and businesses must ensure that privacy and security remain a focus as they develop their connected devices and services.

      On Feb. 11, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will conduct a hearing about the issue as Congress looks to navigate a path that encourages the innovation necessary for the IoT to flourish while addressing inherent security risks that come when tens of billions of devices become connected to the Internet and each other.

      The hearing was the result of a bipartisan request from Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Republicans Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Deb Fischer of Nebraska.

      “Standing on the cusp of technological innovations that will improve both the safety and convenience of everyday items, we shouldn’t let government needlessly slow the pace of new development,” Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the committee’s chairman, said in a statement. “By engaging early in this debate, Congress can ensure that any government efforts to protect consumers are tailored for actual problems and avoid regulatory overreach.”

      The interest from government agencies and lawmakers comes as the Internet of things begins to take hold. Cisco Systems officials have said the number of connected devices—from tablets and smartphones to industrial systems, cars, home appliances, and residential and commercial security systems—will grow from 25 billion last year to more than 50 billion by 2020. Various analyst reports have put the IoT market between $7 trillion and $9 trillion by the end of the decade.

      Tech vendors and businesses have been vocal about the benefits from the IoT, from improvements in consumers’ lives to greater efficiencies and expanded opportunities for businesses. Cisco officials have said that the global impact of what they call the Internet of everything—which includes not only devices but people and applications—to businesses worldwide could be as much as $19 trillion.

      However, security professionals have been just as vocal about the need to deal with the risks that connecting tens of billions of devices means, not the least of which is a rapidly expanding potential attack surface for cyber-criminals. IT professionals are having a difficult enough time securing the systems that are online now. As the number of connected systems and devices grows, so do the dangers. In addition, a key part of the IoT is not only the devices’ connection to the Internet, but also to each other, and the data they pass back and forth.

      It was a key message in the FTC’s Jan. 27 report, which laid out a list of steps that vendors and businesses need to take to ensure that as the IoT grows, consumers and business users can feel confident in the security of the devices and systems and the protection of their data.

      “The only way for the Internet of things to reach its full potential for innovation is with the trust of American consumers,” FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said in a statement at the time. “We believe that by adopting the best practices we’ve laid out, businesses will be better able to provide consumers the protections they want and allow the benefits of the Internet of things to be fully realized.”

      Congress, Government Agencies Putting Focus on IoT

      In its report, the FTC agreed with others that it’s too early in the development of the IoT for specific legislation, given how quickly the technology is evolving. However, commissioners are recommending laws regarding data security and breach notifications.

      Given the broad impact the IoT will have on consumers and businesses, U.S. lawmakers say it’s time Congress started to take a look at the issues. On Jan. 13, Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., a former Microsoft executive, and Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Courts and the Internet, announced the creation of the Congressional Caucus on the Internet of Things. The goal of the caucus is to educate House members about the technology and public policy around the IoT, according to DelBene and Issa.

      “Policymakers will need to be engaged and educated on how we can best protect consumers while also enabling these new technologies to thrive,” DelBene said in a statement. “It’s important that our laws keep up with technology and I look forward to co-chairing the IoT caucus.”

      Congress on Feb. 9 got another look at the potential benefits and dangers of an increasingly connected world. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., released a report indicating that while the automotive industry is rapidly adopting such wireless Internet access and Bluetooth, not enough attention has gone into securing the connected cars, putting safety and privacy at risk.

      “Drivers have come to rely on these new technologies, but unfortunately the automakers haven’t done their part to protect us from cyber-attacks or privacy invasions,” Markey said in a statement. “Even as we are more connected than ever in our cars and trucks, our technology systems and data security remain largely unprotected.”

      Jeff Burt
      Jeffrey Burt has been with eWEEK since 2000, covering an array of areas that includes servers, networking, PCs, processors, converged infrastructure, unified communications and the Internet of things.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×