Optimistic technologists and entrepreneurs often see the potential for positive societal transformation through technology-driven innovations, but it's becoming increasingly clear that a huge challenge faces the Always On world. The very nature of "On" means that information about you is flowing to the network. How can we manage the risks associated with the network knowing more and more about each of us? ... I see the increased public attention and the general level of clamoring as the beginning of full-scale social debate on a truly complex set of issues. As such, we will sometimes step sideways or even backwards. For example, halting research or rushing to legislation may only delay the process of really sorting out the issues. We have a long way to go in developing a real intellectual, social, and legal infrastructure that balances opportunities and threats. We, as technologists and entrepreneurs, really have no choice but to be involved. Memestreamers will not really be surprised by anything in this article, but I blog it as yet another sign that people are taking notice of the situation. |