Connected Items has emerged as one of the hottest topics among JD Supra readers in 2018, with a particular spike in interest right now.

Upon hearing this, anyone who has been paying attention will immediately think of the Internet of the Things and, of course, be reminded of the now-famous 2016 Mirai Botnet attack that took down vast swaths of the internet thanks to an IoT botnet.

As it happens, there's much more of interest at the intersection of Connected Items and the law beyond just cybersecurity (although, of course, that remains a key concern).

A deep dive into JD Supra's Beacon Insights data shows that readers in our Connected Items channel also care about this topic in the context of:

• product liability,
• digital assets,
• artificial intelligence,
• the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA),
• smart homes,
• the FTC,
• and EU regulation, among other concerns.

In Brief, The Beacon Insights Breakdown

1. Who is earning the most visibility for their thought leadership around Connected Items? See the top-read authors in 2018 (additional top authors available upon request):

1. David Stauss at Ballard Spahr
2. Valerie Kenyon at Hogan Lovells
3. Linn Freedman at Robinson+Cole
4. Timothy Tobin at Hogan Lovells
5. Christine Gateau at Hogan Lovells

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2. How to write about Connected Items for maximum engagement? See the most well-read individual articles in 2018 (additional top articles available upon request):

1. Blockchain Digital Assets in Virtual Reality, Video Games and eSports – Ready Lawyer One? - by Wai Choy at Proskauer
2. Artificial Intelligence and your business: A guide for navigating the legal, policy, commercial, and strategic challenges ahead - by attorneys at Hogan Lovells
3. Privacy Tip #120 – Follow FBI Warning About Connected Toys - by Linn Freedman at Robinson+Cole
4. Best practices for managing cybersecurity risks related to IoT-connected medical devices - by Paul Otto at Hogan Lovells
5. FTC Brings First-Ever “Connected” Toys Privacy and Data Security Case; US, Canada, and Hong Kong Privacy Regulators Coordinate Enforcement - by Patrick Bernhardt and D. Reed Freeman, Jr. at WilmerHale

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3. Which markets/sectors to target for Connect Items matters? See industries showing the most significant interest in 2018 (additional industries and specific company information available upon request)*:

1. Technology
2. Insurance
3. Financial Services & Banking
4. Government Administration
5. Defense & Space
6. Healthcare

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And finally, over the past three months, the single most popular focus for writing on Connected Items has been: California's new law focused on Internet of Things cybersecurity legislation (read a popular overview here). 

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*note: JD Supra clients should log in to see preliminary Beacon Insights around their own publications - and can request access to deeper reader data around specific topics, industries, and companies.

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