Pervasive Technologies: Principles to Consider

The purpose of this article was to explore the ethics perspective when contemplating such pervasive technologies as those utilizing biological data and thereby likely to create susceptibilities for users. The authors considered the intensification of opt-in, self-monitoring data collection through such technologies as wearables and bearables, as well as the Internet of Things (IoT), which is burgeoning through the increase of devices, systems, and services that continue to be developed and linked to the infrastructure aggregating vast data. With researchers estimating up to 30 billion devices wirelessly connected to the IoT by 2020, time is of the essence to address ethical considerations. A review of the literature included an overview of the state of such technologies as well as salient issues. The authors then considered the trajectory of such technologies against the backdrop of the principles incorporated in the European Union and international treaties as well as the laws of EU member states, which are as follows: the precautionary principle, the purpose specification principle, the data minimization principle, the proportionality principle, and the principle of integrity and inviolability of the body, and dignity. The authors utilized a philosophical research approach with intellectual analyses to support value judgments.