SmartCom 2019

Abstract: Consent is one of the corner stones in any Privacy practice or public policy such as EU/GDPR. Much beyond than a simple "accept" button, obtaining and demonstrating valid Consent is a complex matter as it breaks down to a number of multi- and inter-disciplinary aspects. Furthermore, and as shown in recent public cases, not only an individual cannot prove what they accepted at some stage, but also organisations are struggling with proving such consent was obtained. This poses challenges both for individuals and businesses. In this talk we will discuss the meaning of Consent, when it is valid and, above all, the existing gaps and approaches to demonstrate valid Consent. We will argue for the establishment of a multidisciplinary Consent discipline that can develop how currently the Web of Personal Private Information operates. In particular, we will argue for the need of an accountable Web in the form of Personal Data Receipts which are able to protect both individuals and organisation while simplifying operations. We call this evolution the Web-of-Receipts: online actions, from registration to real-time usage, is preceded by valid consent and is auditable at any moment by using secure protocols.

Bio: Vitor Jesus is a Lecturer with Birmingham City University, School of Computing, He holds a BSc in Physics, a MSc and PhD in Computer Science and Networks and industry certifications in Cyber Security and Data Privacy. He has 20 years of professional experience, split between Industry and Academia. He has held positions with different companies, from start-ups to large and well-known organisations. He has authored a number of papers, has been in the review panel of several conferences, was a visiting scholar in different institutions, such as Carnegie Mellon University, and has worked in a number of international projects. His current research and teaching interests are in CyberSecurity and Privacy. We live in a world where CyberSecurity is becoming a basic need just like physical safety is; or its absence can bring down a business, a community or a country. We are also moving towards a world where there is no Privacy by default and everyone's Identity and Data will eventually be stolen. Vitor's research aims at bringing control back to users by looking at technologies and solutions, such as Blockchains, Secure Networks or Artificial Intelligence, whether it is in Cars, the Internet, Medical devices, Enterprises, Factories or Cities.

Abstract: In 2003, Martin Rees, the British Astronomer Royal published a book which attracted much attention, “Our Final Century: Will the Human Race Survive the Twenty-first Century.” In it he argued that the human race had only a 50% chance of surviving this century. The threats included nuclear war, chemical wars and climate change. Climate change is a key driver of the so-called ‘Green Agenda’. There is a widespread consensus that the increase in Greenhouse Gases, as a result of industrialization, has already had a significant effect on the climate and may make parts of the planet uninhabitable by the end of the century. Furthermore, natural resources are being used at an unsustainable rate and the careless disposal of waste is poisoning both land and sea. IT has a central role in the modern world and is estimated to be responsible for around 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Green IT is an important part of the green agenda. It has become established as a focus for academic enquiry into both the attempts to mitigate the negative effects of IT due to carbon emissions and pollution from e-waste; and the positive contribution of IT systems to supporting sustainability, such as environmental monitoring systems and smart cities. Belkhir and Elmeligi (2018) estimate that the carbon footprint of IT will rise to around 14% of global emissions in 2040. The global greenhouse gas emission resulting from ICT will exceed that of the agricultural sector. Blockchain technology has become a major force over the last decade. It is particularly used in the financial sector, especially through the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. However, the blockchain validation ‘mining’ process requires the use of a great deal of electricity. Stoll et al. (2019) estimate that the annual carbon emissions of Bitcoin are around 22.5 MtCO2, a level between that of Jordan and Sri Lanka. But blockchain technology can make a positive contribution to the environment through, for example, incentivising green energy production in a block-chain based smart grid and greening supply chains. This tutorial will introduce the key elements of Green IT and explore the negative and positive contributions of blockchain technology

Bio: William Campbell is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science and Digital Technology at Birmingham City University in the United Kingdom. William took a Degree in Mathematics at Glasgow University, followed by a Masters in Intelligent Knowledge Based Systems at Essex University. His main teaching areas have been Formal Methods, Artificial Intelligence and, in recent years, technology entrepreneurship and research methods. William's main research interests are in Green IT, in particular exploring links between organizational culture and the willingness of companies to adopt green IT measures. He has published a number of papers and a book chapter in this area. His other interests include the impact of globalization on IT, and artificial intelligence, in particular natural language processing. William has also been involved in setting up links with overseas universities. He has a particular interest in China and took a leading role in the development of a number of links and joint programmes with Chinese universities.