Local Resistance Builds To Google’S ‘Smart City’ Inwards Toronto (Goog)

We headlined our in conclusion facial expression at the Sidewalk Labs-Toronto bargain "There Is Something Weird Going On With Google's Sidewalk Labs Project In Toronto (GOOG)".

From the Wall Street Journal, Aug 1:

TORONTO—An Alphabet Inc. GOOGL 0.28% projection aimed at creating a “smart city” on Toronto’s waterfront is facing resistance from local officials who are worried well-nigh the development’s administration too how Google’s parent companionship volition grip residents’ personal data.

The local friction has raised doubts well-nigh Alphabet’s maiden attempt to purpose urban blueprint too technology scientific discipline to tackle modern-day issues, such every bit expensive housing, traffic congestion too environmental sustainability.

The Toronto projection is suffering from delays too the loss of fundamental personnel. On Tuesday, the 2 bodies behind the project—Alphabet’s subsidiary Sidewalk Labs LLC too Waterfront Toronto, a Canadian authorities entity—said they facial expression to liberate a concluding evolution conception past times adjacent spring. That conception had been expected this November. Meanwhile, the primary executive of Waterfront Toronto, a supporter of Sidewalk, resigned inward July, too a real-estate developer left Waterfront’s board this calendar week because she was uncomfortable amongst Alphabet every bit a partner.

The early on stumbles reverberate the challenges of edifice new, high-tech Blue Planet developments too illustrate the difficulties for-profit technology scientific discipline companies tin come across when working amongst municipal agencies responsible for safeguarding citizens’ privacy.

Sidewalk remains positive well-nigh the waterfront conception too its human relationship amongst Toronto. “We accept had the privilege of working amongst populace servants at all 3 levels of government, too on the staff too board of Waterfront Toronto, to practise a groundbreaking conception for Toronto’s waterfront,” the companionship said inward an emailed statement.

Under the damage of a negotiating understanding issued on Tuesday, Sidewalk seat out a conception to invest a full of $50 ane thou one thousand for the adjacent planning phase of the deal. Waterfront Toronto, a evolution too revitalization way established inward 2001 amongst government-appointed board members, agreed to negotiate intellectual holding ownership too digital privacy rights based on a seat of “guiding principles” emphasizing people’s command over their ain information.

Privacy watchdogs accept questioned who volition command sensitive digital information every bit residents are tracked past times sensors that may live on embedded inward such infrastructure every bit traffic lights, thermostats too garbage-disposal units. Also at upshot are ownership rights over whatsoever products or techniques developed at the site too sold elsewhere.

“Is the populace getting dorsum from the projection the appropriate degree of value inward damage of coin too populace policy objectives similar populace housing?” said Richard Joy, executive managing director of the Toronto chapter of existent estate too Blue Planet evolution nonprofit, the Urban Land Institute. “It’s seat upward novel territory, too mayhap ane for which nosotros don’t accept a really skillful stair out yet.”...MORE

HT: FT Alphaville's Further Reading post.