Co-authored with Liz Sisson and published by the Harvard Kennedy School, this piece challenges investors and governments to prioritize public purpose in “smart city” procurement and warns against treating cities as testing grounds for extractive technologies built on surveillance and data capture.
In What Should You Consider When Investing in Smart City Technology?, Liz Sisson and I explore how cities and investors can center public purpose in their smart city technology decisions. Published by the Harvard Kennedy School, the piece outlines procurement, governance, and investment strategies that can minimize harm and maximize accountability.
The spirit of this piece is that responsibility for the risks of smart cities doesn’t lie solely with governments or the public—investors and vendors also have significant power and must be part of the solution. We offer concrete ways the private sector can act with integrity, including designing for long-term value, resisting exploitative business models, and listening to impacted communities.