The Internet Society has come out with its latest edition of  Global Internet Report 2016 which focuses on the evolution and growth of the Internet. It specifically highlights large-scale data breaches, uncertainties about the use of our data, cybercrime, surveillance and other online threats are eroding trust on the Internet.
According to the report, “An instructive parallel can be drawn with efforts to increase automobile safety over  the past 50 years. with the advancement of Internet of Things (IoT) Autonomous cars will, of course, be controlled by a computer, and have communications built-in to communicate with the owner, and possibly with other vehicles for safety. As a result, of course, the computer can be hacked remotely, as already seen with the Chrysler Jeep. This can lead to a significant breach of data about the location and activities of drivers, not to mention the possibility of one or more cars being hacked and taken over.
More broadly, many of our recommendations are valid for preventing or mitigating breaches of the full range Internet of Things devices. Not just for the data they are gathering with their sensors, but also for a security breach leading to personal or public safety risks, with autonomous cars a leading example of the risks. As such, we encourage the application of the findings of our report to the relevant issues arising from the Internet”
The report further focuses, to offer concrete solutions that could positively impact user trust and the global digital economy. A key question raised by the report is: why are organisations not taking all available steps to protect the personal information they collect from each of us? The issue of trust is so serious that we risk undoing all of the progress we have made over the past three decades. It is time we act together to solve it.
