RISKS
CONCERNS AND DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH NANO DUST
Nano dust deployment on a large scale would come with a slew of risks: Privacy: Many people who are sceptical of smart dust’s real-world consequences are concerned about privacy concerns. Smart dust devices will shrink to the point where they are invisible to the naked eye, making them incredibly difficult to detect. They can be programmed to record anything that their sensors can detect (ironically, people have begun to voluntarily carry devices that would accomplish exactly that). You’ll most likely have no idea who is collecting the data or what they’re doing with it. When smart dust enters into the wrong hands, your imagination can go wild with the terrible privacy consequences.
ficult. The amount of smart dust that may be used to cause harm by a rogue individual, company, or government would be difficult for authorities to manage if necessary. Cost. The cost of implementing a smart dust system that includes the satellites and other elements required for full execution is considerable, as it is with any new technology. Many people will be unable to afford technology until expenses are reduced. Pollution. Smart dust motes are essentially one-time use items. The question of whether they will pollute the locations where they are utilised arises unless they are totally biodegradable (soil, air, water).
Control: It would be difficult to recapture or catch billions of smart dust devices after they have been spread across a large area. Given their small size, detecting them if you weren’t made aware of their presence would be dif-
90
