Internet of Things

The Federal Trade Commission will hold a public workshop on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 in Washington, DC, to explore consumer privacy and security issues posed by the growing connectivity of devices.   The ability of everyday devices to communicate with each other and with people is becoming more prevalent and often is referred to as “The Internet of Things.”  Connected devices can communicate with consumers, transmit data back to companies, and compile data for third parties such as researchers, health care providers, or even other consumers, who can measure how their product usage compares with that of their neighbors.  The workshop will bring together academics, business and industry representatives, and consumer advocacy groups to explore the security and privacy issues in this changing world.  The workshop will serve to inform the Commission about the developments in this area. The workshop will be free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required. Seating is limited and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  The workshop will be webcast. The workshop will focus on privacy and security issues related to increased connectivity for consumers, both in the home (including home automation, smart home appliances and connected devices), and when consumers are on the move (including health and fitness devices, personal devices, and cars).  The Commission will publish a more detailed agenda at a later date, in advance of the scheduled workshop.   The workshop will be held at the FTC’s satellite building conference center, located at 601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC.  The workshop is open to the public, and there is no fee for attendance.  For admittance to the Conference Center, all attendees must show valid government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license.   The Commission accepted submissions on privacy and security topics until June 1, 2013.