The Internet of Things as an emerging global Internet-based information
archit- ture facilitating the exchange of goods and services is
gradually developing. While the technology of the Internet of Things is
still being discussed and created, the legal framework should be
established before the Internet of Things is fully operable, in order to
allow for an efective introduction of the new information architecture.
If a self-regulatory approach is to be adopted to provide a legal
framework for the Internet of Things, and this seems preferable,
rulemakers can draw on experiences from the current regime of Internet
governance. In the near future, mainly businesses will operate in the
Internet of Things. Civil society is only expected to make use of the
Internet of Things, as it now does of the Internet, at a later stage
(e.g. for healthcare). The Internet of Things will have an impact in
various areas. The regulatory fra- work must provide for provisions
ensuring the security of the structure as well as the privacy of its
users. Furthermore, legal barriers that may stand in the way of the
coming into operation of the Internet of Things will have to be
considered. However, the Internet of Things will also have positive
efects in diferent felds, such as the inclusion of developing countries
in global trade, the use of search engines to the beneft of civil
society, combating product counterfeiting, tackling environmental
concerns, improving health conditions, securing food supply and
monitoring compliance with labor standards.
