Extension of Traditional "Internet Governance" to the Internet of Things

Abstract

In the ongoing process of Internet growth a new development is on its way, namely the evolution from a network of interconnected computers to a network of interconnected objects (Internet of Things, IoT). The structure of the progressively spreading IoT might need its own Internet Protocol addresses, be embedded in complex systems and use sensors to obtain information from its environment instead of storing information on tags. Already now some IoT applications enrich our lives, amongst others web-enabled mobile phones equipped with cameras and/or near-field communication, unique serial numbers on pharmaceutical products and smart electrical metering systems. Within the scope of IoTs further development a multitude of different types of objects will be globally networked. The scope of IoT applications will affect many domains such as transport and logistics, energy efficiency, road safety, health, welfare, education, etc. and thus is expected to lead to substantial societal challenges. From a regulatory point of view, the IoT is not only a mere extension of todays Internet, but rather a complex netting of independent but interoperable systems, implemented in symbiosis with new services and different modes of communication. Consequently, the traditional Internet Governance concepts are not anymore suitable to identically be applied, but the development of decentralized architectures and the promotion of a shared network of multi-stakeholderism governance for the IoT is needed. Technically, a name service for the current IoT has been adopted by EPC Global and GS1, the Object Naming Service (ONS); the ONS, managed by the company VeriSign, operates through the Domain Name System (DNS), managed by ICANN, notwithstanding the fact that the IoT relies more than the current Internet on metadata and might therefore be more favorable for an implementation of the Semantic Web. DNS, the traditional and central Internet service, still suffers from well-known and to date not eliminated weaknesses regarding its robustness, configuration, complexity and security. Consequently, using DNS for ONS might result in directly transfer of these weak spots to the current IoT.