The Administration of Ubiquity: Governance, Dataveillance, and the Smart City

A key feature of modern smart cities is the technological infrastructure that enables the constant collection of data. Whether it is through Internet of Things devices, household domotics, CCTVs, or other means, the intelligence of a smart city depends on ubiquitous data gathering. The capability to collect data and turn it into useful information for urban governance is not in question; however, there are concerns with how urban governments obtain such information and its effect on the lived experience of citizens. The data mediated relationship between people and their government requires careful consideration of the potential costs and benefits to society. This paper discusses concepts for ubiquitous smart city administration that account for concerns of privacy, security, engagement, and participation. Songdo, a new ubiquitous smart city in South Korea, is presented to illustrate some of the issues. This paper explores the interactions between citizens and smart city governance in order to offer ideas for how administration can manage ubiquity for social progress.