INFA 660
Policy Drafting Exercise: Internet of Things (IoT)
Updated: April 4, 2022
As you have most likely heard, the Internet of Things (IoT) is the next major thing and is ready to invade the home. Appliances and meters are connected to the internet to facilitate monitoring and improve maintenance. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is playing an important role in educating the public on the benefits and security and privacy challenges posed by IoTs and leading the discussion on how to address these challenges. See https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/federal-trade-commission-staff-report-november-2013-workshop-entitled-internet-things-privacy/150127iotrpt.pdf.
Two recent articles on the subject are:
· http://www.csoonline.com/article/3154852/internet-of-things/can-government-really-fix-the-iot-mess.html
· https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-01/your-kitchen-appliances-are-watching-you-security-expert-warns)
For this exercise, imagine that the FTC is looking to you to issue policy to vendors and service providers so as to manage the collection and sharing of information by these home devices. The goal is to minimize the privacy concerns of consumers/customers of IoT devices in their homes. Your Policy is dictating how vendors/service providers of these devices shall care for the privacy of their customers/users. One good resource for writing a Privacy Policy is by TRUSTe. It is in your Session 3 OERs.
Here is the complete exercise:
· Part 1 of the paper should describe the future home identifying the types of internet connected devices that you anticipate, the benefits that such connections may offer and the issues and challenges that such connections present.
· Part 2 should provide your recommended policy concerning data collection, sharing, data usage, protection of data collected, etc. Part 2 should also have a Conclusion. In your Conclusion, present what you learned from this exercise and identify specific concerns regarding the Internet of Things (IoT) and the future it portends
The paper will be graded as follows:
Content (Understanding of the topic as well as soundness and completeness of the policy and conclusion presented)
· Description of IoT for home: 10%
· Benefits and challenges of IoT at home: 10%
· Policy on data collection, sharing and limitations: 40%
· Conclusion: 10%
· References and citations: 10%
Style
· Clarity/style (how well you communicated your ideas in writing (the use of figures, pictures and tables are all encouraged): 10%
· Writing ( grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation): 10%
The paper will be 9 – 12 pages in length, double-spaced, 12 font and typewritten. The page limitation does not include the Title Page or the Reference List. No Abstract is needed.
In this paper you must demonstrate graduate level writing and comply with the format requirements of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition. Careful attention should be given to spelling, punctuation, source citations, references, and the presentation of tables and figures.
Please refer to UMUC policies on academic dishonesty and plagiarism.
Use of Turnitin
This Policy Paper assignment will be reviewed using Turnitin, a software tool embedded in the online classroom to support the development and assessment of academic writing, including ensuring the authenticity of student work through a Similarity Report that highlights any matching areas in your paper found in another submitted paper in the Turnitin repository using a range from 0% to 100%.
The use of Turnitin in this class is different than how it may have been used in your other classes in that there is no need to create a separate account. You only need to submit your assignment within the classroom. Shortly after you submit your assignment you will receive helpful feedback to improve your writing from within the Turnitin software tool.
You can submit your paper to Turnitin multiple times before the assignment due date. Once you submit your assignment to the Assignment folder, your paper will be submitted automatically to Turnitin generating a Similarity Report. When a Similarity Report is available for viewing, a similarity score percentage will be made available that can be accessed from the Assignment folder by selecting the Submitted link located under “Completion Status” or by clicking the View History button. NOTE: It may take a few moment for the report to be available.
If you have any questions about the use of Turnitin for your assignments, please reach out to your instructor directly via the in-class messenger or email. If you are experiencing any difficulty accessing the Similarity Report, please visit the Turnitin support site.
https://help.turnitin.com/feedback-studio/d2l/student/student-category.htm
Remember that you will not use your account at Turnitin.com for this course; the tool is already embedded in this assignment folder.
Be sure to include the following certification statement:
“This paper or presentation is my own work. Any Helpance I received in its preparation is acknowledged within the paper or presentation, in accordance with academic practice. If I used data, ideas, words, diagrams, pictures, or other information from any source, I have cited the sources fully and completely in footnotes and bibliography entries. This includes sources which I have quoted or paraphrased. Furthermore, I certify that this paper or presentation was prepared by me specifically for this class and has not been submitted, in whole or in part, to any other class in this University or elsewhere, or used for any purpose other than satisfying the requirements of this class, except that I am allowed to submit the paper or presentation to a professional publication, peer reviewed journal, or professional conference. In adding my name following the word ‘Signature’, I intend that this certification will have the same authority and authenticity as a document executed with my hand-written signature.
Signature _____________________________”
