NTIA Workshop to Focus on IoT Growth, Privacy, Security

Thursday's NTIA workshop on fostering IoT growth will build on comments the agency received in the spring on the strategic role for government in this effort. The 9 a.m.-3 p.m. workshop will have discussions on privacy and security implications and technological barriers for IoT implementation and help provide input for the Commerce Department's upcoming green paper on IoT. Among speakers are former FTC Commissioner Julie Brill, now a Hogan Lovells attorney, Commerce Director-Digital Economy Alan Davidson, Information Technology Industry Council President Dean Garfield, Patent and Trademark Office Deputy Director Russell Slifer and NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling. The webcast event will be held at the PTO office, 600 Dulany St., Alexandria, Virginia. The National Institute of Standards and Technology held a two-day workshop Tuesday and Wednesday on the trustworthiness of IoT and cyber-physical systems. In a blog post Tuesday, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy said both workshops are part of a larger effort the Obama administration is taking to ensure that innovation, privacy and safety are considered in expanding the IoT market. Other activities include a Department of Homeland Security collaboration with industry to develop a cybersecurity assurance program, two federal interagency working groups' examinations of IoT R&D and a $160 million smart cities initiative to help communities use IoT and other technologies to improve traffic congestion, pollution, crime and other challenges.