A better understanding of tech’s negatives will lead to more positives
2018 has been a bad year for Facebook, which has come under intense scrutiny for the way they have shared data with third parties. But it’s not just data scandals that have tarnished tech’s image over the last few years. Airbnb has faced criticism for driving up rents in cities, while electric scooter providers such as Lime and Bird have come under fire for littering cities with abandoned scooters
(not to mention the rising number of scooter related injuries). The main problem is that all too often technology is adopted quite rapidly and, as a result, it’s only after something has become mainstream that the negatives become apparent and remedial action is needed. This should not mean that we are reluctant to adopt new technologies but what we do need to do is create a framework where we can evaluate new products/services to determine the pros/cons and mitigate against risks. It is also important that we learn from instances where there has been a negative impact or issues of concern. Although there is a great difference between Facebook and the construction industry, we could soon be responsible for substantial amount of building and end user data due to digital construction/BIM and the increase in smart buildings. As a result we need to establish a way to collect, store and manage this data to prevent industry data scandals down the line and to make certain that the data we do have is used for the common good.
