The Dangers of City-Wide Integrated Information Systems

As reported in the June 8 edition of Georgetown Watch Dog, the city is embarking on a significant upgrade to its software/hardware systems. The new system, called Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), allows all the city departments to be interconnected using common protocols. Each department performs a series of common, repetitive tasks: issuing permits, performing inspections, making zoning determinations, among many others. And, of course, there are ongoing, administrative responsibilities: writing checks, accepting and processing payments, processing payroll, hiring staff, and others. 

The management of the business functions and processes within these departments requires software that serves their unique needs: financial software for accounting purposes; HR software for personnel management; and police software for coordinating dispatch and records. 

Once this powerful system is installed, the tendency of the city managers will be to connect more and more functions to the system that will allow enhanced control of the citizens through the "smart city" concept where everything is connected via the Internet.

 The central idea of a smart city (similar to the ‘smart grid’ for electrical power) is to use information and communications technologies – especially the Internet-of-Things (IoT) – to enable the city to collect, communicate and process data from all of its assets, with a view to better managing the city. This covers roads and transportation systems, buildings and land, hospitals and health services, water and energy infrastructure, waste management systems, law enforcement, and so on. Smart cities provide city managers an unprecedented amount of data about what is happening at every node of the grid, and therefore much greater control over the city.

Perhaps it's time for the City Council to consider establishing policies that will prevent future Councils and managers from connecting the ERP to information from individual homes, other than basic usage of city services, and using the information gathered to exercise control over the residents.