Guinea Pigs

Abstract

This chapter discusses the implications for citizens of data-driven management by charting the issues of living in a smart city testbed area, demonstrated through a walking tour for local residents, led by a public official. It was clear to the recently hired community liaison officer for the city's smart docklands team that the key expected outcome was to convince local residents that there was nothing to fear from the trialling of new technologies in their area and to get their buy-in. However, interaction with the local community had been a secondary concern to those establishing initiative. They had been much more focused on the technical and business aspects of building the testbed and securing investment than how it related to those that lived and worked there. Nevertheless, the community liaison officer tries to convince the citizens that they do not collect personal data and that the initiative provides job opportunities.