'Internet of things' sparks privacy concerns.

• Position: PRIVACY

There are more "things" connected to the Internet today than there are people. According to an April European Commission (EC) press release, the average person has at least two objects connected to the Internet, and by 2015, that number is expected to grow to seven for a total of 25 billion wirelessly connected devices globally. This has some experts contending that the world is entering the age of the "Internet of Things."

This means that protecting data is no longer an issue associated only with computers; according to the press release, it extends to "everyday objects, such as phones, cars, household appliances, clothes, and even food" that are "connected to the Internet through smart chips, and can collect and share data."

That concern was made clear in the early results of a public consultation recently undertaken by the EC that is due to be completed this summer. The consultation could be the first step toward regulation.

According to Ryan Heath, spokesperson for the commission's Digital Agenda, in an interview with German International broadcaster DW.de, it could take up to three years for a legislative proposal to emerge from dialogue between the European Parliament and European Union member states. The trick is to protect privacy without strangling innovation from the bottom up, added Martin Spindler, a strategy consultant based...