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Herbiraptor
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- Oct 12, 2009
Data mining techniques could determine the types of appliances that are used within the home because different devices have identifying power signatures.
http://www.smartmeters.com/the-news/688-experts-say-smart-grids-a-privacy-concern.html
Utilities' smart meters save money, but erode privacy
By Andrew Maykuth
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
The meters could record material so frequently that power flows could be interpreted like DNA to reveal unique electrical signatures of individual appliances. Some experts imagine an Orwellian future in a carbon-constrained world, where consumers are cited for excessive electricity use, or divorce lawyers comb through meter records and ask: Who used the hot tub while the spouse was away?
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/busi...art_meters_save_money__but_erode_privacy.html
One of the more interesting items that I saw on my morning trawl round the wires was a case where monitoring of energy usage is used to gather evidence against suspected marijuana growers. (How is it that marijuana growers keep popping up in my 'analog' blog I ask myself?) It seems that not only have such growers adopted all manner of high tech paraphernalia themselves; but US and Canadian law enforcement agencies have resorted to some sneaky, technology-centric methods of catching them.
The case in question involved growers in Alberta, Canada who were caught by police using a digital ammeter to glean evidence about the amount of electricity within their home. Though the data did indeed identify a 300+ plant operation, the judge dismissed the ammeter as a source of evidence for reasons of invasion of privacy – the police hadn't obtained the necessary search warrant to use it. Ammeters have apparently proven very successful at highlighting suspect electricity consumption patterns and therefore pinpointing grower operations. Placed on a power box off the property, they don't involve trespass, but used without the appropriate warrants, the data gathered is deemed a violation of the homeowner's privacy.
http://www.analog-europe.com/blogs/219401485
Responses for “Smart meters raise privacy concerns”
1.
markadamsjdmba says:
November 9, 2009 at 8:42 am
Irene, you are right on point here. I was informed by a power company employee that the new meters give the power company much more information about usage than the old meters do and that the FBI and DEA come to speak to the power company’s employees on a regular basis to tell them what to look for and report.
He said that an increase in electric usage resulting from installing a hot tub or pool would definitely be reported to the Feds and investigated. After all, if you use more energy, you might be a terrorist or drug dealer and you are certainly contributing to global warming…
Data mining techniques could determine the types of appliances that are used within the home because different devices have identifying power signatures.
http://www.smartmeters.com/the-news/688-experts-say-smart-grids-a-privacy-concern.html
http://www.smartmeters.com/the-news/688-experts-say-smart-grids-a-privacy-concern.html
Utilities' smart meters save money, but erode privacy
By Andrew Maykuth
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
The meters could record material so frequently that power flows could be interpreted like DNA to reveal unique electrical signatures of individual appliances. Some experts imagine an Orwellian future in a carbon-constrained world, where consumers are cited for excessive electricity use, or divorce lawyers comb through meter records and ask: Who used the hot tub while the spouse was away?
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/busi...art_meters_save_money__but_erode_privacy.html
One of the more interesting items that I saw on my morning trawl round the wires was a case where monitoring of energy usage is used to gather evidence against suspected marijuana growers. (How is it that marijuana growers keep popping up in my 'analog' blog I ask myself?) It seems that not only have such growers adopted all manner of high tech paraphernalia themselves; but US and Canadian law enforcement agencies have resorted to some sneaky, technology-centric methods of catching them.
The case in question involved growers in Alberta, Canada who were caught by police using a digital ammeter to glean evidence about the amount of electricity within their home. Though the data did indeed identify a 300+ plant operation, the judge dismissed the ammeter as a source of evidence for reasons of invasion of privacy – the police hadn't obtained the necessary search warrant to use it. Ammeters have apparently proven very successful at highlighting suspect electricity consumption patterns and therefore pinpointing grower operations. Placed on a power box off the property, they don't involve trespass, but used without the appropriate warrants, the data gathered is deemed a violation of the homeowner's privacy.
http://www.analog-europe.com/blogs/219401485
Responses for “Smart meters raise privacy concerns”
1.
markadamsjdmba says:
November 9, 2009 at 8:42 am
Irene, you are right on point here. I was informed by a power company employee that the new meters give the power company much more information about usage than the old meters do and that the FBI and DEA come to speak to the power company’s employees on a regular basis to tell them what to look for and report.
He said that an increase in electric usage resulting from installing a hot tub or pool would definitely be reported to the Feds and investigated. After all, if you use more energy, you might be a terrorist or drug dealer and you are certainly contributing to global warming…
Data mining techniques could determine the types of appliances that are used within the home because different devices have identifying power signatures.
http://www.smartmeters.com/the-news/688-experts-say-smart-grids-a-privacy-concern.html
