Giving Compass' Take:

· Although technology has made life easier, the rapid advancements have exacerbated existing inequalities. Here, Urban Institute explains why leaders need better data and tools to make smart cities more inclusive and equitable.

· How can donors support more inclusive smart cities?

· Here's more on data collection and management for smart cities. 

Critics of smart city technology argue, with good reason, that rapidly integrating technology in all aspects of government can exacerbate cities’ existing inequalities.

A 2017 National League of Cities survey found that 66 percent of US cities have invested in “smart city” technology, such as smart meters for utilities or wifi kiosks. Over the next two decades, cities around the world are poised to spend $41 trillion on these technological applications.

Critics of smart city technology argue, with good reason, that rapidly integrating technology in all aspects of government can exacerbate cities’ existing inequalities.

For example a recent report from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration found that 54 percent of families with income less than $25,000 use the internet at home, compared with 82 percent of families with income above $100,000. Low-income families on the wrong side of the “digital divide” can easily miss out on the benefits offered by smart city applications. Technological investments in historically excluded communities also have the potential to exacerbate gentrification and displacement, or increase the capacity for surveillance, which threatens residents’ privacy.

On the other hand, advocates for smart cities often argue that adopting technology can not only boost cities’ efficiency, but also help them meet commitments to advance equity and inclusion(PDF).

Read the full article about smart cities by Alena Stern and Graham MacDonald at Urban Institute.