How do we win consumers’ trust in IoT?

From improving road safety and making homes more efficient, to improving the way we deliver healthcare, IoT solutions improve the way we work and live. Globally, IoT adoption is happening faster than ever. In fact, according to IoT market analysts, the number of connected devices worldwide will nearly double by 2030, from 15.1 billion in 2020 to 29 billion. This exciting prediction suggests that connected devices will collect and exchange more data than ever before, making trust a key component of IoT projects.

While it is clear that IoT brings many benefits from a social perspective, the ethical practice issues surrounding IoT are still a topic of discussion and concern. For example, there is hesitation about the global availability of IoT and whether it can fully contribute to an inclusive society. Additionally, there are growing concerns about the security and stability of the entire network—whether the network can be trusted and not cause harm to users.

Consider the moral aspect

When it comes to the Internet of Things, ethical issues do not exist in isolation. Security, trust and privacy are all interconnected.

Digital security risks exist at every step of the IoT journey, as cybersecurity hackers exploit vulnerabilities in systems to hunt for sensitive data. An example of this includes new research that highlights how new variants of the notorious Mirai botnet are able to infect less secure IoT devices by leveraging default login credentials such as usernames and passwords. Researchers have discovered three attacks using botnets in the past year, just one of many similar attacks that have occurred since the beginning of the Internet of Things. Such attacks and subsequent misuse of data undermine user trust and raise questions about privacy issues.

There are also broader concerns about the ethics of IoT in emerging markets. For more developing countries, there may be fewer existing safety and security regulations and a lack of modern solutions. Unfortunately, this means less protection for consumers and greater risk. Furthermore, one of the most significant challenges facing developing countries is insufficient infrastructure. IoT technology relies on strong and reliable networks to operate effectively. Implementing IoT solutions can be challenging in areas with poor connectivity and power supply.

Make an ethical plan for the future

In the public interest, the only way to successfully deliver on the promise of IoT is to work with informed consumers. Consumers need to trust that businesses will use their data and information appropriately and responsibly. With trust, we can solve other problems in turn.

Let's start with security and data ownership. Ensuring that sensitive data does not fall into the wrong hands is critical. Real-time traffic monitoring and endpoint management can detect network outages, network traffic bursts, and denial-of-service attacks to proactively resolve issues, which is an essential requirement.

Ultimately, enterprises need to develop a clear and transparent IoT strategy that focuses on privacy and trust security when deploying IoT systems, products and services. They must consider ethical considerations from the beginning of the project and throughout its life cycle. IoT policy must be consistent with wider political and environmental needs and commitments.

For example, sensors can be used to warn us about fires and clean air and water problems. They can also be used to improve sustainability initiatives. For example, sensors can be used in “smart agriculture” to monitor weather, soil and crop conditions in real time. Monitoring alone could save billions of gallons of water and gigawatts of electricity by reducing waste and increasing farm productivity. If we build enough momentum, starting with best practices at the organizational level, we can help create and strengthen an ethical and sustainable way to use IoT.

Well, especially for developing countries, we need the best infrastructure possible. The adoption of IPv6 is one of many important factors supporting IoT adoption. In fact, IPv6 means there are enough IP addresses to accommodate the large number of IoT devices expected to come online in the next few years. IPv6 provides a larger address space, which is crucial for the development of the Internet of Things. This will enable IoT devices to securely connect and communicate with each other, simplifying data exchange and making it more reliable and efficient.

social perspective

The final consideration is the social perspective. A number of mature open communities have been working on network and ICT security, privacy, network abuse and related issues for decades, interacting with regulators and government groups to meet their needs. These communities have developed a base of standards, documentation, and knowledge that can help developers solving these problems. They also welcome the unique perspectives of those working in the IoT space to inform their policy and standards development discussions.

For everyone around the world to benefit from the powerful expansion of the Internet, we must develop and maintain a shared understanding of good practice around the world. This practice requires a combination of sustainable solutions and interoperable standards, with a focus on scalable and low-power connectivity, security measures including end-to-end encryption, regulatory compliance with data protection and data ownership regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA . Actions can be taken at all levels by all organizations, especially those considering deploying IoT now or in the future. We must work together to keep up with the pace of IoT solution deployment and build new global levels of trust to help protect future users.