In 2018, the IEEE entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CIO Strategy Council (CIOSC) and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) to work together in forging a clear path forward with respect to governance challenges posed by emerging technologies for societies and decision makers around the globe. With a focus on making progress on much-need standards to support sound data governance, a joint workshop of the MoU partners was held on the future of data governance and the implications for standards. A report from the workshop indicates the need to advance knowledge on the development of standards in the field of data of big-data governance and the design of autonomous and intelligent systems.
The report highlights a summation of the key areas or topics that emerged from the workshop, including addressing potential engagements and standardization. It also noted several considerations, such as utilitarian standards and the implications and potential opportunities at the intersection of technology and physical spaces. Municipalities and residents alike are looking for answers as to how to balance the opportunities for innovation and efficiency with the need to protect civil liberties. IEEE (under its Standards Association), CIOSC and CIGI are planning to hold a second workshop in the series on this issue in the Spring of 2019. Interested stakeholders will be invited to share information regarding issues such as anonymization of data; profiling; facial recognition technologies and consent requirements in public spaces. Participants will also look at best practices for citizen engagement including voluntary surveillance ordinances. The workshop will provide guidance for the development of voluntary standards to better manage citizen protection issues in public spacess.