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With the onslaught of smart watches, smart thermostats, and even smart refrigerators that allow you to Tweet hangry messages to your followers, it’s only natural that a “smart city” would follow.

This week, San Francisco city officials agreed to run a one-year pilot project with Sigfox – an FCC certified French start-up that builds low-power wireless networks – to create an Internet of Things (“IoT”) wireless network that caters exclusively to smart devices with low-bandwidth apps. While the term “wireless network” typically conjures up thoughts of the ubiquitous Wi-Fi symbol, this low-power, wide area network (“LPWAN”) on which Sigfox will operate is entirely separate from traditional cellular networks, which require a much higher level of data streaming and power usage.

Sigfox and city technology crews have installed about 20 of its base stations throughout San Francisco, using libraries and other city buildings. Each base station covers about 12 to 18 miles and is roughly the size of a briefcase. Device makers who want to join the network must install a radio chip that costs less than $2 and comes loaded with the Sigfox firmware.
Continue Reading San Francisco Launches First “Internet of Things” Wireless Network in United States

A study published 22 September 2015 criticises the EU’s development of its Digital Single Market (‘DSM’) strategy for being overly commercially and economically driven, with little attention to the key legal and social challenges regarding privacy and personal data protection. The development of the DSM should not be at the expense of individuals’ privacy rights, say the authors. The study was commissioned by the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee.

The DSM strategy was unveiled earlier this year and is aimed at removing regulatory barriers so that digital services can operate seamlessly throughout the EU. However, despite promises made by the Commission and DSM Vice President to review the interplay between the e-Privacy Directive (2002/58/EC) and the DSM, the study finds that the strategy downplays the complexity of issues such as data anonymisation and minimisation in Big Data.Continue Reading Study reports draft EU Data Protection Regulation leaves gaps in protection when it comes to Big Data, Internet of Things and smart devices