The importance of responsibility in video technology

ISJ May Edition Exclusive

To ensure we gain positives through technological advances, it is vital that our decisions and investments hinge on responsible use, says Neil Killick, EMEA Sales Director, Developed Markets, Milestone Systems.

What does responsible use mean to Milestone Systems?

The responsible use of technology requires you to engage with it in a safe and ethical manner. That covers everything from how a product is developed and manufactured, to how it is installed and used by an end user, plus the cybersecurity of the product and data protections put in place. Without the responsible use of technology, we risk entering a Wild West period of advancement that risks public backlash and a roll-back of all the progress video has made.

Why is responsible use particularly important now?

Video technology is an important solution to some of the largest challenges society faces today – from pollution to the protection of people and assets. Video is getting smarter with advances in AI — which increases its potential remit. Further advances in the cloud, 5G, IoT and AI will result in more novel uses of video, beyond security.

For us to realise the benefits of this, we need trust in video to grow. High levels of trust lead to greater public acceptance of surveillance, which will be needed as video becomes more present in all facets of modern day life. A significant amount of data will be collected by video cameras and connected devices. Responsible use by the entire industry ensures peace of mind that video is ultimately used for the good of society.

Can you say more about the potential of video to improve lives?

As video devices become more intelligent thanks to advances in machine learning and integrations with the IoT, the applications become vast. Healthcare settings can use video to monitor patients and respond quickly to emergencies. Video analytics could automatically detect a patient falling out of bed, for instance.

On a wider scale, cities are turning to video as a way of ensuring not only the safety of citizens but also their health and wellbeing. Air quality sensors can track pollution with cameras giving a visual confirmation of the potential reason (such as traffic congestion).

Water levels and other natural events can also be monitored to proactively protect people and properties at risk of flooding or other disasters. Video technology can also streamline city services like waste management and water supply. Ultimately creating a better citizen experience while also having an impact on sustainability and cost efficiency.

How does cybersecurity link to responsible use?

You can have the most responsible processes in place but it will come to nothing if your data is poorly protected and personal information is leaked. Video devices can be compromised either as a gateway for a wider cyber-attack or to obtain data (which could be highly sensitive and personal).

Therefore, all video devices need to be cybersecure by design to avoid becoming a weak point that’s exploited by malicious actors. Ideally, look for a manufacturer who is also GDPR-ready certified and who has a dedicated resource for responding to cyber-attacks and vulnerabilities.

Milestone XProtect is GDPR-ready certified and can be operated in FIPS 140-2 compliant mode. It uses certificate-based HTTPS communication, plus can encrypt and password-protect media data. XProtect uses consistent server-side user authentication and authorisation, combined with strict user rights and roles.

A tiered system architecture separates the camera network and client network/core server with no direct routing between the two. This lowers the impact that a potential attack may have on a system. These are just some of the ways Milestone is ensuring the security of its devices and the protection of data collected by them.

Apart from cybersecurity, how can installers and end users learn more about the steps manufacturers take towards responsible technology?

Milestone is dedicated to the responsible use and manufacture of its technology and we subscribe to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We only do business by doing it the right way; the way we behave as a company is as important as the technology that we develop. Responsible use is core to everything Milestone does, from product development to strategy and everyday decision-making.

That ethos extends beyond Milestone itself to also impact the companies we partner with and the commitment we have to our customers. We want to help our customers optimise their business processes and protect their assets; this can only be fully achieved when we work ethically and promote responsible practices across our entire network.

We have extensive due diligence when approving projects to ensure they do not impact human rights and we go to great lengths to remove as much bias as possible from our products and recruitment. Responsible use must be a non-negotiable with every manufacturer you work with. That will raise the bar for the entire industry.

This article was originally published in the May edition of ISJ. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.