Will Washington Move to Regulate the Internet of Things?

Walk the halls of the International CES and listen to tech titans like Cisco’s John Chambers and it’s easy to believe that the Internet of things is the next big thing and that it’s all but here. But while the tech industry may be embracing it, Washington policymakers, fretting over data security and privacy issues, still aren’t sure what to do about it.

At least one government regulator cautioned that Washington should relax rather than jump to regulate technology advances as they are still evolving. “We should adopt a regulatory regime that allows technology, even disruptive technology, to thrive,” said Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen of the Federal Trade Commission during a heavily attended Internet of things CES session. “Success of the Internet has been driven by the freedom to experiment even in the face of unease. It’s vital that government approach the Internet of things with regulatory humility.” “Because interconnected devices collect and share large amounts of information, the tech industry must be sensitive. It’s crucial that companies act to safeguard the privacy of users in order not to give it a bad name,” Commissioner Ohlhausen warned.