MIPIM Proptech NYC: ‘Robust public dialogue’ spurs Sidewalk privacy innovation
Sidewalk Labs’ response to concerns over data use has resulted in a “world leading construct” to protect privacy, according to the group’s chief development officer.
Speaking at MIPIM Proptech New York, held in partnership with MetaProp, Sidewalk Labs’ chief development officer Josh Sirefman said that by addressing concerns over data sharing with a new policy, the group was arguably “ahead of everyone else” and the hope was to “create a model for inclusive growth”.
Sirefman conceded that Sidewalk Labs started the Toronto “city from the internet up” project with a bit of naivety around this subject. He added that since work began on the scheme, the understanding around the risks of data sharing had escalated and had been at the forefront of the development as a result.
Sidewalk Labs’ response to concerns over data use has resulted in a “world leading construct” to protect privacy, according to the group’s chief development officer.
Speaking at MIPIM Proptech New York, held in partnership with MetaProp, Sidewalk Labs’ chief development officer Josh Sirefman said that by addressing concerns over data sharing with a new policy, the group was arguably “ahead of everyone else” and the hope was to “create a model for inclusive growth”.
Sirefman conceded that Sidewalk Labs started the Toronto “city from the internet up” project with a bit of naivety around this subject. He added that since work began on the scheme, the understanding around the risks of data sharing had escalated and had been at the forefront of the development as a result.
“We have evolved to a position now as a result of this increasing focus on data and privacy where government will set the guidelines for use of data on this project. There will be guidelines for everything. For example, where there are sensors, building managers will be required to go through a process to get permission to use that data.
“There is no other model like this, as far as I am aware, for a policy around data capture in the public realm. And while a lot of conversation around this issue specifically has been hyperbole and often irrelevant in terms of our development, there has been a lot of very relevant dissuasion about how you manage data in this context.”
As for the “resistance” from different stakeholders, Sirefman said that, on the whole, there had been “very robust public dialogue” and he believed some coverage had been skewed “towards more contentious elements.”
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