An IoT Ethics Case Study

Source : https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/internet-ethics/resources/smart-lampposts-
illuminating-smart-cities/

In August 2018, a publication titled Smart Cities World featured an article on the deployment
of smart street lighting in Hong Kong. “Leveraging IoT sensors fixed on the lamp posts,” the
article explained, the technology
will enable real-time collection of city data, such as weather, air quality, temperature, people
and/or vehicle flow related information, for city management and the support of various
applications of smart city initiatives. It will also provide services such as wi-fi hotspots,
electric vehicle charging facilities, information dashboard for maps and directions, real-time
traffic updates, and car parking vacancy space information.
Smart lampposts are often adopted as a means to reduce energy use, as well as to enhance
public safety. A number of cities in the U.S., too, have deployed versions that include
microphones and related AI technology; Los Angeles, for example, is reportedly “equipping
the streetlights with sensors that can detect gunshots or other noises that may pose a threat to
public safety.” Schenectady, N.Y., has installed environmentally friendly LED bulbs in 5,000
of its streetlights, with “the entire network accessible through a secure web browser.” When
there are no cars or people on the streets served by smart light posts, the smart lights dim; if
motion sensors are triggered, the lights go up. In 2017, the mayor of Schenectady explained:
“So, if you’re walking a dog at 10 p.m. at night and all the lights are going on in the street when
you’re walking down, you get an added level of security.”
In Singapore, a Smart Nation Sensor Platform project got underway in 2018, aiming to
eventually fit all 100,000 of that city’s light posts with a network of smart sensors. Responding
to concerns raised about privacy—in particular by the proposed use of facial recognition
technology in combination with the deployment of high-definition camera on the light poles—
the Deputy Secretary of the program commented,
We have no plans to use it to probe into how people live their lives. … The whole point of the
sensor platform is to look at improving services, look at how to run the city and operate the
city better and how to plan the city better. We have no plans to do moral policing or things like
that.
At least one local professor noted, however, that cybersecurity and data leaks could be “bigger
dangers.”
Privacy concerns were also expressed by a councilman in San Jose, California, when in 2018
the city approved the installation of 1,000 smart streetlights which can also, purportedly,
“[detect] car crashes, gun shots and even [serve] as an earthquake sensor.” According to
a report on the local NBC station, the streetlights are also equipped with “face recognition,
cameras, and audio recording capabilities.” While some raised concerns, one resident quoted
in the news report argued that "If people know they're being watched, they don't do stupid
things.”
Back in Hong Kong, the rollout of the smart lampposts program began in July 2019. The
following month, during mass protests, various news outlets reported that some demonstrators,
worried about governmental surveillance, were cutting down the newly installed smart
lampposts. According to an article in The Atlantic,
The Hong Kong government has acknowledged that the lampposts have enough hardware to
spy on citizens, but says protesters’ fears are unfounded. In July, as the first wave of lampposts
were installed around the region, federal officials promised to disable some surveillance
features, including license-plate recognition and continuous audiovisual surveillance. Tony
Wong, an assistant government chief information officer in Hong Kong, said in a recent press
conference that the posts aren’t capable of the invasive facial recognition deployed in China.
The Hong Kong Free Press noted that, after 20 smart lampposts were destroyed, a local
company involved in the project decided to end its contract with the Hong Kong government.
The company reported that some of its employees, as well as family members of some of its
executives, had received threats. In a statement, it said that it hoped its decision would “reassure
the public,” adding, “We understand that disputes in society over the past few months led the
public to be cautious and mistrustful towards some technology.”
Questions

1. Who are the stakeholders involved in the development, deployment, and use of smart
lampposts? Who should be consulted about such projects’ goals and development?
2. What steps might business and government teams need to take in order to access the
information/perspectives needed to manage the ethical landscape of such projects?
3. What are some ethical issues that should be addressed as part of the deployment of
smart lampposts in cities? Do those issues differ from city to city?

Answer:
1. In my opinion, all those involved in the development of smart lamps are the local
government, the company developers who make the smart lights and also for their
use, namely the community because the purpose of this smart lamp was originally to
reduce energy. In my opinion, what should be invited in the development of this
project is between the government and the company developers who make smart
lights and also the community because of the local government permit with smart
lights, the company developers who make smart lights can sell their innovations to
countries that want to use lights. smart and will be realized in the country. Then for
the people who enjoy this smart lamp, if there are problems related to this lamp, then
the public can complain to the developer of this lamp company and in the end the
government can also act on it.

2. In my opinion, steps that can be taken by the business and government teams are to
inform the government about this smart lamp project first and then the government
must follow up on this project to be implemented or not carefully so that the country
is safe from the eyes. Then the government must also be honest with its people about
the features contained in the smart lamp, such as the one in the article that the smart
lamp has hardware that can record audio and a camera that can function to spy on the
public which at first might be used for positive things but if not used wisely, this
smart feature can be easily misused by irresponsible parties.

3. In my opinion, the ethical problem that must be addressed from the spread of smart
lights in conveying their aspirations is not good because with the anarchic actions
carried out by the Hong Kong people in responding to the existence of smart lights in
their country. Then for the Hong Kong people also have to solve this problem
peacefully without any threats to related parties who install this smart electric light
pole. According to the article, the problems faced by several cities are indeed different
like in Singapore, the country has implemented the smart lights since 2018 and there
have been no complaints from the people. Then there is also in California, there is an
opinion from one of the members of the board that has approved the existence of
these smart lights and installed as many as 1000 units. Finally, there is the Hong Kong
public's refusal regarding this smart light because it can interfere with their privacy
because of the hardware in the form of cameras and audio recorders in this smart
light.