In these comments filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Center for Data Innovation argues that there is an enormous potential for the devices that make up the Internet of Things to address many important real-world problems, including how we manage health care, use energy, and protect the environment. Many of these technologies, and their respective benefits, are already being realized, but policy makers have the potential to make or break the Internet of Things. Most importantly, the full potential of the Internet of Things will not be realized unless policy makers embrace a flexible and modern regulatory regime that fosters data-driven innovation. Specifically, policymakers should work to lead by example in the adoption of new technologies, reduce barriers to data sharing, give consumers access to their data, avoid inundating consumers with notices, and regulate the use, rather than the collection, of data.
Daniel Castro
Daniel Castro is the director of the Center for Data Innovation and vice president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Mr. Castro writes and speaks on a variety of issues related to information technology and internet policy, including data, privacy, security, intellectual property, internet governance, e-government, and accessibility for people with disabilities. His work has been quoted and cited in numerous media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, USA Today, Bloomberg News, and Businessweek. In 2013, Mr. Castro was named to FedScoop’s list of “Top 25 most influential people under 40 in government and tech.” In 2015, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker appointed Mr. Castro to the Commerce Data Advisory Council. Mr. Castro previously worked as an IT analyst at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) where he audited IT security and management controls at various government agencies. He contributed to GAO reports on the state of information security at a variety of federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). In addition, Mr. Castro was a Visiting Scientist at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he developed virtual training simulations to provide clients with hands-on training of the latest information security tools. He has a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and an M.S. in Information Security Technology and Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
