The safety of IoT-enabled system in smart cities of India: do ethics matter?

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of ethics and technology towards safety of internet of things (IoT)-enabled system in smart cities of India (SCI). Design/methodology/approach The determinants that would impact on securing IoT-enabled system in SCI have been identified by the studies of literature. Some hypothesis has been formulated. A conceptual model has been developed. Hypotheses and conceptual models have been tested by a statistical approach through survey works considering the feedbacks of 331 usable respondents. The results have been discussed followed by explaining the implications of this study. A comprehensive conclusion has been provided at the end. Findings The validated results show that the trust factor has insignificant impacts on the system and technology use, as well as on the behavioural intention. The model provided could achieve 79% explanative power. Practical implications For ensuring safety and security of IoT-enabled devices in SCI, the ethical sense of the stakeholders of SCI has considerable impact on securing safety of IoT-enabled devices in SCI. The practitioner should, as such, be sincere to motivate the stakeholders to ameliorate the ethical sense of the stakeholders for securing safety of IoT-enabled devices in SCI. Originality/value A few studies in the areas of Indian smart cities, IoT and related ethical issues have been conducted. In that sense, this approach is deemed to be a novel attempt.