“The Smart Divide: Examining Public Perceptions and Mistrust of Smart City Technology”

On April 25, 2023, Duke University presented a survey at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Hamburg, Germany, which explored public attitudes toward smart city technologies currently in use. The survey revealed that Americans have concerns about the ethical implications of the data being collected, particularly from marginalized communities, and that the benefits and harms of smart city tech may not be shared evenly across communities.

Smart cities have been touted as a solution to make cities cleaner, safer, and more efficient. However, over the past 20 years, city governments have been partnering with tech companies to collect real-time data on daily life in our cities through sensors, loggers, and cameras that track many aspects of public life, including foot traffic, driving and parking patterns, and even detect gunshots.

While proponents argue that the data collected is for the greater good, such as detecting crime, improving traffic, and reducing pollution, many Americans worry that the benefits and harms of smart city tech may not be shared evenly across communities.

The study conducted by Duke University involved nearly 350 people from across the United States in addition to qualitative interviews with 21 people aged 24 to 71 from underserved neighborhoods in Seattle that have been prioritized for smart city projects over the next 10 to 15 years. Most of the study respondents had never even heard of the term “smart cities”, however, many of them expressed concerns about the new technology.

One of the key technologies that participants had significant concerns about was gunshot detection, which uses software and microphones placed around a neighborhood to detect gunfire and pinpoint its location, rather than relying solely on 911 calls to police. Respondents worried that the technology could contribute to racial disparities in policing, particularly when disproportionately installed in Black and brown neighborhoods.

The survey also revealed that even collecting and sharing data such as air quality raised concerns for some respondents, who worried it could potentially drive up insurance rates in poorer neighborhoods exposed to higher levels of pollution.

People with lower incomes expressed more concern about the ethical implications of smart city tech than those with higher income levels. Hence, lack of attention to such concerns can hamstring smart city efforts.

Worldwide, spending on smart cities initiatives is expected to reach $203 billion by 2024, according to a report by the National League of Cities.

Emami-Naeini, the assistant professor of computer science and director of the InSPIre Lab at Duke University, argues that a key component of the smart cities agenda has been neglected: the needs and views of city residents. Most believe transparency and communication are really important in the creation and deployment of smart city initiatives. Her team’s findings indicate that people want to know what data the sensors are collecting, how often, how the data will be used, who has access, whether they have the ability to opt-in or opt-out, and who to contact if something goes wrong.

Therefore, there is a call to have communities participate in the creation of these projects to ensure that the technology works for everyone. That’s because communities that come together can actually change the fate of these projects. “I think it’s really important to make sure that people’s voices are being heard, proactively and not reactively,” as stated by Emami-Naeini.

In conclusion, smart cities do offer a lot of advantages and benefits that should not be ignored, but the ethical implications of data collected should be considered for all communities. City residents’ needs and views should be a priority, and transparency in the use of these technologies and communication with local communities should be a standard. Finally, the law and legal practices need to be adjusted and updated to protect citizens from any ethical and privacy violations while deploying these technologies.