Transparency in the Consumer Internet of Things
Join the UNSW Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation and the IEEE Society for Social Implications in Technology (Australia Chapter) (IEEE SSIT) for the sixth session in the Challenges for a Cyber-Physical World online seminar series: ‘Transparency in the Consumer Internet of Things’ with Anna Ida Hudig.
Smart devices, such as speakers with voice assistants, home security systems, fitness trackers and other wearables increasingly feature in everyday life. These so-called consumer Internet of Things (IoT) products can generate and collect vast amounts of data about ourselves, our actions and our behaviours; though often there is little known about this data and how it is used. A research team from Cambridge University (with contributions from Oxford, Harvard, Imperial College and UCL) received a grant from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office to explore the potential for transparency mechanisms for building an understanding of the data processing practices of IoT product vendors.
The team obtained 43 IoT products and set up a monitoring infrastructure to capture data flows from the products over the Internet as they were being used. They analysed the volumes, frequencies, and destinations of these data flows, and then used GDPR data rights to probe the vendors what data was collected, why, with whom it is shared, and so on. The lead researcher from the team will report on the results of the study and what that means for individuals whose data is being collected by these devices, as well as for a broader range of stakeholders.
Speaker:
Anna Ida Hudig is a researcher in the Compliant and Accountable Systems Group in the Department of Computer Science and Technology at the University of Cambridge, led by Dr Jat Singh. She focuses her research on privacy, transparency, and accountability in the Internet of Things (IoT). Anna takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining technology, law, and social sciences to enhance her understanding of the subject.
Anna holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Engineering for Sustainable Development from Cambridge University, with distinction. Anna also has a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Future Planet Studies, majoring in Artificial Intelligence, and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Amsterdam.
In her research, Anna explores various topics, including data protection rights and accountability in the consumer Internet of Things, embodied AI, femtech, as well as data justice and technological surveillance. By examining these themes, she aims to develop human-centered computing solutions that safeguard human rights and address the accountability challenges inherent in systems and networking.
Aside from her research, Anna actively contributes to teaching undergraduate computer science students. She supervises courses such as Interaction Design (Part IA CST) and Economics, Law, and Ethics (Part IB CST) at the University of Cambridge.
Anna has also gained practical experience as a full-time Strategic Counsel at a law firm, focusing on EU projects related to cybersecurity, accountability, and human rights in digital ecosystems. She has been involved in projects related to asset tracking and distributed ledger (blockchain) infrastructure, exploring areas such as Bitcoin in banking and carbon tracking in marine fuel distribution.