Canada’s intelligence service issued a white paper recently that warns municipalities of being exploited by adversaries such as the Chinese government to gather sensitive data, target diaspora communities and interfere in elections. The report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) advises policy-makers and their technology partners to address emerging security threats prior to adopting a “smart city” platform.
With planned systems that feature electronically linked devices that transmit information through centralized platforms from controlling traffic lights or renting bicycles, the network can be exploited by bad actors, the agency warns.
“One of the primary security concerns relating to smart cities is the fact that they necessitate the selection and retention of massive, continuously processed data pools that could be exploited to reveal patterns of individual and societal behaviour,” the report says. “These concerns are heightened by the lack of control and visibility over where this data is stored and who has access.”
Although the CSIS report was prepared in 2021, was only recently released to The Canadian Press in response to an access-to-information request filed in October of that year. The danger of “back door” access is an area of concern, the report says. A single breach of a seemingly innocent application could render all devices vulnerable to interference or attack.
“In other words, data collected through a bike sharing app could theoretically heighten access to other connected devices, such as a city’s energy grid, water supply, or traffic-light management database,” the report says.
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