Digby Nova Scotia Address On Smart Cities Technology

Included Transcript

Citizens of Digby, Esteemed members of the council.

My name is Catherine Henderson. I operate an astrology and tarot online business named "The Journey Home". Prior to this, my educational and professional background primarily revolved around computers, technology, hardware, and software.

I am pro-technology but we are at the precipice of choosing bad technology over the good that can be achieved and is already emerging in spite of this dangerous road you are proposing to foist onto the people of Digby.

Today, I want to bring warning and attention to the potential illegal and immoral implementation of smart cities, with reference to the Nuremberg code. What the dangers are of centralized control over the people and accountability when it all goes south.

Smart cities rely heavily on the collection and analysis of vast amounts of personal data, including location data, bio-metric data, and even social media activity. This raises serious concerns about privacy and data protection. The technology is being implemented without our knowledge or consent, and we have had no say in how it is used.

Furthermore, the deployment of smart cities technology may exacerbate existing inequalities and create new ones. The implementation of smart cities requires significant investment and infrastructure, which would not be evenly distributed across different neighborhoods or communities. This would lead to a situation where wealthier areas have access to advanced technology and amenities, while lower-income areas are left behind.

The risks associated with smart cities technology are not just limited to privacy and inequality concerns. The centralized control over the people that this technology provides is alarming. Automated decision-making processes can lead to biases and discrimination, especially if the algorithms used are based on flawed or biased data. We have already seen the evidence of manipulation of algorithms to achieve decisions made over human lives without proper legal vetting, debate or consent. There is also the potential for abuse of power by those who control and operate the smart cities technology, which would lead to a violation of human rights. I could not possibly stress enough the danger of accountability you could eventually be brought to for being a part of this. This will not end well. We need leaders with integrity.

In conclusion, I urge the citizens of Digby to openly and actively reject giving any tolerance or consent to being turned into a smart city and to the council to carefully consider the ethical and legal implications of smart cities before moving forward with their implementation. The Nuremberg code serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting the dignity and welfare of all citizens, especially when it comes to the collection and use of personal data. Let us remember the dangers of centralized control over the people and its inevitable demise in the past and in future.

This technology, regardless of any justification, cannot take precedence over human rights.

Let us strive to create a future that is just and respectful of human dignity.

Thank you for listening