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have access to multiple parts of the system • How do regulators optimize interop while
and can interact with the operators through operating within the constraints of their Chapter 4
highly complex interfaces. However, in the complex political environments? Although
Internet of Things or the wearables market, regulators and policy-makers have many
end users are unlikely to have access to large traditional means of increasing levels of
parts of the system, and the interface may be interop (e.g., mandating standards, passing
as small as a watch face. In those challenging legislation), this chapter has highlighted
circumstances, how can interoperable systems many of the other approaches in the
better communicate with end-users? regulatory toolbox. Indeed, in many cases,
these alternative approaches may be the
• How do issues of surveillance and national most effective. Governments, however,
security factor into the interop calculus? have many constituencies with competing
When regulators and governments are interests. The balancing described in this
weighing whether and how to intervene in chapter is challenging enough in a vacuum,
order to encourage higher levels of interop, to and is even more so in the real world. For
what extent should surveillance and national example, an agency may feel political pressure
security factor into those decisions? The to demonstrate decisive action, when a more
Internet is value-neutral and networks can light-handed approach actually would better
be used in ways that either benefit or harm optimize interop. How can governments best
society; interoperability merely amplifies both. take into account their constraints while still
Higher levels of interop do not inexorably enabling interop?
lead to more surveillance or less. Greater
levels of interop can create both a higher The answers to these questions are not simple, but
risk of surveillance and greater threats to wrestling with them will be critical for designing
national security. How, then, do governments the next generation of interoperable technologies.
approach interop issues when considered
through the lens of their broader roles and
responsibilities?

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