It almost looks like all of the recent advances in technologies were created with good intent as well as to reward the inventors with boat loads of money. I cannot think of any of the major technologies that have been invented by responsible companies to assist the bad guys. However, almost all of these great new technologies have and continue to be used in ways that they were not intended and for the detriment of everyone. Here are a few: world wide web – this has been a game changer and has helped bridge the technology gap around the world in meaningful ways, but has been exploited by the criminals in numerous ways; Mobile technology – again, this has revolutionized communication all around the world while introducing another path for the bad guys; Streaming media – this now helps us listen and watch what we want, when we want and where we want, but this also has resulted in intellectual property violations of all kinds; finally Social Media – well, do I need to say anything about this?

My gripe is with the technology companies, especially the startups, who do not pay enough attention to the implications of what they are putting out. They rush to get their products to go viral and this seems to be the focus rather than use current examples as a guide to structuring the products in a way that they are solid in terms of security and privacy and are sustainable for a reasonable time into the future. Of course, unintended consequences are part of the game because no technologist can ever see before hand how a criminal is likely to think and take advantage of the technology being rushed out. But…

Tesla’s autopiloted car involved in a fatal crash is a classic case of rushing to the market. Yes, it is true that in comparison to a whole lot of metrics, this is not serious, but, what is the real rush here, except the first mover advantage and the money associated with it. Is it really worth losing lives for this purpose? Google’s self driving car is an example where a lot of care is being exercised. Not only has it been in research mode for 6 years, but, based on research to observe the drivers of automated cars, they have decided to go down a completely different, safer path. If you are interested, read about it here.

Streaming media and in general any digital media that takes a lot of time and effort to produce is another area where the technology has been so far ahead without properly thinking the implications through. With the exception of Apple, where Steve Jobs, who really seem to have thought this through right at the beginning in terms of unbundling music, pricing it right and exerting control, many others rushed to get the attention. Everything is born digital in the world of music and films these days. By definition, it can easily be distributed or stolen.

Unless of course, the technologists think of protecting the media at the get go. Root cause is the exposed content and not the networks or where it is stored. If a film cost millions of dollars to produce, you better think of a way to protect every frame of that film in a way that it is not easily accessible. Why aren’t technologists thinking about content protection and intellectual property?

Frankly, we all go by deadlines and eagerness to please our customer base and sometimes tend to roll out products that are not fully tested. However, when it involves life and death, a lot of money or losing life long savings, it must be treated pretty serious. We need the technology leaders to pause even if it is going to take some time to put out a product. I think a delayed product that is well thought of, sound and sustainable is any day preferable over a rushed one that has not been reasonably tested. There needs to be a balance of course in that you don’t want such a process to take forever before we get to see a product.

It also puts the responsibility on us, the customers, to not get too excited and wanting a product prematurely and then paying for it dearly!