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Ag lawyer expects more ag data privacy discussion in 2019

A lawyer specializing in agriculture thinks issues involving the privacy of ag data will expand in 2019.

“I think we’re going to be talking a lot more about data privacy and ‘internet of things’ type devices as we get more and more things on the farm that are interconnected,” says Todd Janzen with Indianapolis-based Janzen Ag Law.

Janzen say the growing use of remote sensors on the farm is positive but could also create challenges.

“Sooner or later we’ll start to see, on the national stage, some of these devices have problems,” he says, “and when that happens, people will start talking about what happens if we have a security breach on a certain type of sensor, that happens on the farm.

“The risk to farmers can be much greater than the risk to a homeowner if, let’s say, their smart doorbell doesn’t work on their front door. So I think we’re definitely going to be talking a lot more about internet of things type devices and adding more sensors on the farm in 2019.”

AUDIO: Todd Janzen