State of the Connected World 2023 Edition

The State of the Connected World 2023 Edition identifies critical governance gaps in the IoT ecosystem, specifically in ethics, cybersecurity, and equal access. Based on a survey of over 270 stakeholders, the report highlights a widespread lack of confidence in data privacy and protection against cyberattacks. It argues that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated IoT adoption in healthcare and industry but also exposed vulnerabilities in data security and digital equity. The document recommends a shift toward 'security by design,' increased digital literacy, and public-private partnerships to expand infrastructure in underserved regions.

• Ethics and responsible use of data is identified as the area with the largest perceived governance gap, with 82% of survey respondents lacking confidence in the protection of privacy and responsible data use.
• Cybersecurity represents the second-largest perceived governance gap, driven by fragmented global regulations and the tendency to treat security as an 'add-on' rather than a core design element.
• Significant barriers to equal access to IoT benefits exist due to economic disparities, lack of infrastructure, and digital illiteracy, with 65% of respondents lacking confidence that these technologies are accessible to all regardless of geography or socio-economic status.
• The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for IoT adoption, particularly in healthcare through emergency approvals for devices and in business operations to ensure continuity via automation and remote monitoring.
• Environmental sustainability of IoT is a point of contention; while 80% of deployments potentially address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), confidence is undermined by planned obsolescence and the use of difficult-to-recycle materials like cobalt and tungsten.
• Obsolete devices pose a heightened security risk, with an average of twice as many identified vulnerabilities per device compared to current or aged devices.
• Interoperability remains a challenge due to the proprietary nature of many solutions and a lack of API accessibility, although 69% of respondents express some level of confidence in the industry's move toward open standards.

APA

World Economic Forum (2023). State of the Connected World 2023 Edition. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_State_of_the_Connected_World_2023_Edition.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. State of the Connected World 2023 Edition. 2023. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_State_of_the_Connected_World_2023_Edition.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=State of the Connected World 2023 Edition |date=January 2023 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_State_of_the_Connected_World_2023_Edition.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2023state, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{State of the Connected World 2023 Edition}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_State_of_the_Connected_World_2023_Edition.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }