The Internet of Things (IoT): Legal Issues, Policy, and Practical Strategies - Cynthia H Cwik

The Internet of Things (IoT): Legal Issues, Policy, and Practical Strategies Cynthia H Cwik ISBN 9781641053631

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the growing ability to connect, monitor, and control virtually any mechanical or digital system—whether automotive, medical, residential, or part of critical infrastructure. These technologies offer enormous potential to improve efficiency, safety, and quality of life in our communities. At the same time, IoT systems introduce significant security, privacy, and operational risks that must be proactively addressed. With industry collaboration, these risks can be managed by leveraging technical standards, liability frameworks, and insurance mechanisms to ensure that IoT’s foundational components are secure, reliable, and resilient.

IoT adoption is accelerating across industries. Utilities are deploying smart grid technologies that wirelessly connect devices such as thermostats, enabling real-time monitoring of usage patterns and precise adjustments to energy supply. In the consumer space, connected clocks, kitchen appliances, and other household devices track behavior to automate daily tasks—brewing coffee before you wake, alerting you when supplies run low, placing grocery orders, or allowing you to remotely control locks and lighting. While these networked systems offer convenience and cost savings, they also create new vulnerabilities that, if exploited, could give malicious actors unprecedented power to disrupt systems at scale.

This book examines the legal, regulatory, and risk-management challenges posed by the expanding IoT ecosystem. Topics include the use of IoT in connected vehicles, health technologies, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones); the intersection of IoT with emerging technologies such as 5G and blockchain; the current legal and regulatory landscape governing IoT in the United States and abroad; and the security and privacy risks inherent in connected devices. The book also explores the role of state attorneys general in consumer protection, the impact of IoT on intellectual property and insurance, practical guidance for employers and corporate counsel on IoT use in the workplace, and a forward-looking perspective on the future of IoT from an MIT research scientist.

The Internet of Things (IoT): Legal Issues, Policy, and Practical Strategies Cynthia H Cwik ISBN 9781641053631, 978-1641053631 & 9781641053648

Editors
Cynthia H Cwik
Christopher A Suarez
Lucy L Thomson