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Is Your Electricity Meter Spying On You?

Posted by samzenpus on from the unseen-mechanized-eye dept.

lee1 writes "If you have a 'smart meter,' it is collecting data that can reveal when you wake up, when you leave for work and come home, when you go on vacation and when you take a shower. This data is commercially valuable and, if sold to third parties, can lead to privacy invasion on a massive scale. The California Public Utility Commission is reacting to the gas and electric company's mass installation of these meters with new proposals for strong privacy protections."

3 of 405 comments (clear)

  1. The lesson by Toe,+The · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The lesson here: any data that is collectable will be collected. Any data that is usable will be used.

    It would be entirely naive to think that law enforcement would restrain themselves from using data that is right there for the taking. All it takes is a little strong-arming of the company in charge of the data.

    That includes consumption of electricity, water, gas, internet, cable-tv, UPS-deliveries, and anything else someone else pumps into your house.

  2. Re:Tin Foil Hat Time! by chemicaldave · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The flaw in your logic is that not everyone uses facebook. Facebook is voluntary, the electric meter is not.

  3. Re:But.... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That seems backwards. During a drought they should just increase the price of water, until usage goes down as much as they need.

    Leaving ordinary people unable to afford to flush their toilets, and rich people with lush, green lawns.

    The market doesn't solve problems like this very well, contrary to what people seem to believe.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.