Will The Internet & Wearable Devices Affect The Practice Of Law?

The next revolution in technology involves a major shift in how we use the Internet and its integration into everyday items we use. It is already taking place with wearables becoming more prevalent in society like the new Apple iWatch, Google Glasses, and the GoPro Camera.  The future of the Internet of Things (IoT) will radically change both how law firms use the Internet and privacy cases regarding these IoTs.

Wearables Are forcing Changes Now

The wearable revolution is the first of the two major shifts that are expected to shake up how businesses and people use the Internet. From using smartphones and mobile devices like tablets, wearables are the next step in incorporating the Internet into everything we do.

Just as businesses had to contend with employees using their mobile devices for texts and emails that may contain private information, wearables present similar issues for law firms on a much larger scale. The iWatch and other watch wearable Internet devices are bringing email, text and files onto your person like never before. These wearable devices are providing easy access to information like we’ve never seen. As a law firm, you will need to address the security and privacy concerns of these devices.

If you already have a policy for mobile devices and smartphones, it can be updated to include wearable devices that can transmit, create, and share client information. Yet, depending on the device better security functions may be needed in order to shut down the accessibility of that information should the wearable be lost. Understanding the specific security features of wearables will be necessary to make determinations on which will be included in ‘allowable and secure’ devices within your firm.

These same principles and security mandates can then be applied to other devices as they come on the market, such as Google Glasses or other devices that have abilities to record audio or video or create documents or metadata. Imagine apps on wearables that can record client sessions, upload those sessions to the cloud infrastructure and provide instant records for billing or other uses. The security and privacy implications are considerable. Combining these concerns with the next revolution of IoT and consumer cases means law firms need to start working on these policies immediately.

IoT Radical Changes

The Internet of Things is the development of Internet connectivity in everyday items. This could include your refrigerator reminding you that you need milk on your next grocery run, lights and doors that turn on or unlock at the push of your smartphone button or even technology in your car that schedules your next appointment for preventative maintenance. The bounds of this technology are just starting to be explored and could provide amazing amounts of metadata on our everyday lives. The privacy implications for consumers are quite large.

Imagine an appliance manufacturer that takes advantage of the information uploaded to the cloud regarding your use? Cases regarding data breaches and personal identity theft are on the rise with the use of cloud computing and the Internet for everyday tasks.

If you are a law firm, contending with these issues will need to be done sooner rather than later. Technology already moves at a pace that most businesses are hard pressed to keep up with. As attorneys for these businesses you will need to be industry leaders providing advice and consultation through the myriad of privacy and security issues that will arise.