The impact universe—a framework for prioritizing the public interest in the Internet of Things

The connected technologies of the Internet of Things (IoT) power the world we live in. IoT systems and devices are critical infrastructure—they provide a platform for social interaction, fuel the marketplace, enable the government, and control the home. Their increasing ubiquity and decision-making capabilities have profound implications for society. When humans are empowered by technology and technology learns from experience, a new kind of social contract is needed, one that specifies the roles and rules of engagement for a cyber-social world. In this paper, we describe the “impact universe,” a framework for assessing the impacts and outcomes of potential IoT social controls. Policymakers can use this framework to guide technological innovation so that the design, use, and oversight of IoT products and services advance the public interest. As an example, we develop an impact universe framework that describes the social, economic, and environmental impacts of self-driving cars.