Why an Internet of Things Trust Framework Is Needed Now

[Commentary] Following the exponential growth of the Internet, mobile devices and applications, consumers worldwide are being presented with thousands of options and solutions claiming to support the promise of making your home “smart” and tracking your steps to fitness with the latest wearable. With this rapid race to market, all too many of these products and services lack basic security and privacy protections. Connected devices and the applications are just enablers. The real value and threat to the user and business is the data. Perhaps the Internet of Things (IoT) might be better named the “Internet of Data” as the amount of personal and sensitive data being collected is staggering.

All this data collection increases risk to consumer security and privacy and raises questions internationally from regulators including the Federal Trade Commission. Faced with the convergence of these issues, and building on our past work convening multi-stakeholder efforts, the Online Trust Alliance formed the IoT working group in January 2015 recognizing the need to review security, privacy and sustainability of these devices and services holistically. The group’s initial focus is on the smart home and wearable technologies. Whether you are part of the IoT Trust Working Group (membership is open to all), a security researcher or a privacy professional looking to learn more, OTA is hosting a public Summit in Washington (DC) on Nov 18th where the final draft of the Framework will be reviewed and next steps explored.

[Craig Spiezle is the Executive Director and President of the Online Trust Alliance]