Smart Governance, Smart Living: Opportunities and Risks in an Internet of Things World

As part of Meridian’s Corporate Council technology initiative, we partnered with AT&T to convene the forum "Smart Governance, Smart Living: Opportunities and Risks in an Internet of Things World" on December 12, 2017.

Corporate Council Chair Eric Loeb of A&T kicked off the forum by sketching the Internet of Things landscape, highlighting innovation in tech and policy along with gaps in infrastructure and governance.

These introductory remarks set the frame for the panel dialogue, moderated by The Washington Post’s Jessica Bell and featuring Dan Caprio, Co-founder and Executive Chairman, The Providence Group; Mark Erdly, Principal, STUDIOS Architects; and Antonio García Zaballos, Lead Telecommunications Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank. The panel discussed the critical conceptualization of the “Internet of People” to ensure privacy and security are interlinked when making IoT advancements across technology, business and policy. In addition to cross-sector partnerships, the panelists also explored the economic inclusion angle, particularly by examining how to bridge the divide between the Global North and South so that ‘smart’, albeit prohibitively expensive, initiatives do not become playgrounds for the rich and thereby limit access to technologies and digital connectivity that can improve quality of life for all.

Attendees had an opportunity to engage in these conversations through both Q&A and breakout discussions at their tables. The latter provided an opportunity for all participants to actively contribute their ideas and perspectives on the topic. To capture insights from the breakout conversations, one participant from each table reported out to share with the full group of guests.

Culminating the forum was a keynote address by The White House’s Grace Koh, who serves as Special Assistant to the President for Technology, Telecom, and Cyber-Security Policy. She addressed the audience by sharing the Trump Administration’s priorities for entering the nearby future of 5G as well as perspectives on strategies to advance infrastructure and policies while also balancing the need for both open and secure data flows.

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