Smart Cities Technology Benefits and Risks

Cities are increasing their use of smart technologies, which are at various stages of adoption, to improve services for their residents. Smart transportation systems include technologies that can be used to detect the number and speed of vehicles traveling along roadways. In support of law enforcement, some cities use automatic license plate readers and acoustic gunshot detection systems.
Because data from some smart technologies can potentially be used to identify individuals, cities using smart technologies also face issues related to privacy and civil liberties.
GAO identified three policy options, in addition to the status quo that may help with implementation of smart city technologies.