RD296 - ETNO Reflection Document in reply to the EC consultation on “Future networks and the Internet” – early challenges regarding the Internet of things

More than before, the fast deployment of NGNs must be a priority for the EU when considering policy issues or support actions for the future of the Internet. Discussed in the paper are security aspects, the protection of personal data, identity management, and naming as critical parts of any RFID application architecture. Obligatory measures should remain proportionate and avoid implying unnecessary burdens that could prevent innovation and deployment of new technologies.

Furthermore, ETNO is convinced that to support the large number of emerging applications for the Internet of Things, the underlying network technology must be inherently scalable, interoperable, and have a solid standardization base, avoiding that a multitude of de facto standards emerge at either application, industry sector or regional level, which would inhibit global interconnectivity.

The Internet of the future will bring substantial societal and economic advantages for citizens of the EU. To this extent, ETNO believes that the fast deployment of Next Generation Networks must become more than before a priority goal for the EU Commission when considering policy issues or support actions for the future of the Internet.
Specifically for what is referred to as the Internet of things, a number of policy issues must be adequately considered. Security is a key issue for the successful development of RFID applications. However, the definition of protective tools should be left to market actors: self regulation and general consumer protection rules are sufficient public policy tools for the initial stages of RFID development.
It is of utmost importance that any obligatory measure remains proportionate and does not imply unnecessary burdens that could prevent innovation and deployment of new technologies. It is also crucial to ensure the protection of personal data, particularly through preventive privacy impact assessments, development of non-intrusive technologies and public protection awareness. ETNO recommends that the necessary data protection measures should be taken in the form of voluntary commitments by industry.
Identity Management and Naming are critical parts of the proposed RFID application architecture. But RFIDs are not the only applications that could be associated with Identity Management (or rather Identity Assurance) and therefore the Identity Management issue should not be confined to specific applications.
Finally, ETNO is convinced that to support the large number of emerging applications for the Internet of Things, the underlying network technology must be inherently scalable, interoperable, and have a solid standardization base, avoiding that a multitude of de facto standards emerge at either application, industry sector or regional level, which would inhibit global interconnectivity.