The Connected World: Examining the Internet of Things
30 Pages Posted: 13 Feb 2015
Date Written: February 11, 2015
Abstract
Testimony of Adam Thierer (Mercatus Center at George Mason University) before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for hearing on “The Connected World: Examining the Internet of Things.”
The three key takeaways of the testimony: (1) First, the Internet of Things offers compelling benefits to consumers, companies, and our country’s national competitiveness that will only be achieved by adopting a flexible policy regime for this fast-moving space. (2) Second, while there are formidable privacy and security challenges associated with the Internet of Things, top-down or one-size-fits-all regulation will limit innovative opportunities. (3) Third, with those first two points in mind, we should seek alternative and less costly approaches to protecting privacy and security that rely on education, empowerment, and targeted enforcement of existing legal mechanisms. Long-term privacy and security protection requires a multifaceted approach incorporating many flexible solutions.
Keywords: Internet, things, wearable, privacy, security, innovation, permissionless, precaution, FTC
JEL Classification: M3, L86, L88, L5, L2, K13, L5, K13, K00, K39, O3, O31, O33, M38
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation