x404.co.uk
http://x404.co.uk/forum/

Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
http://x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3315		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:58 am ]
Post subject:  Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... -home.html

Quote:
Smart meters could become a 'spy in the home' by allowing social workers and health authorities to monitor households, adding to concern at Britain's surveillance society.

Why should social workers ever need this? I can see the need to for the utilities to inform the police of very heavy demand which could be cannabis farms.
Author:  snowyweston [ Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
I can only assume they meant the benefits fraud branch of "social worker" - in which case I'm more for it.
Author:  Linux_User [ Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
What a repulsive idea. It used to be in this Country that the State stopped at the door. :evil:
Author:  jonbwfc [ Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
Linux_User wrote:
What a repulsive idea. It used to be in this Country that the State stopped at the door. :evil:

I don't think this will really change anything in terms of personal privacy TBH. It's already possible to issue a court order to get access to your utility bills. If you have a 'smart meter' it would still require a court order to examine the data it fed back due to the restrictions of the DPA. It just means the data would be more 'granular' i.e. the would be able to see how much electricity you were using at any given time of the day rather than just over a metering period. I'm not sure what you could be able to tell from that other then the most obvious assumptions.

A bigger issue is the utility companies will be able to use smart meters to 'improve efficiency' by making all the people who do the meter readings redundant. And that smart meters most likely won't be used in the way they can be that benefits the customer, just in the way that best benefits the supplier.

Jon
Author:  snowyweston [ Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
jonbwfc wrote:
A bigger issue is the utility companies will be able to use smart meters to 'improve efficiency' by making all the people who do the meter readings redundant.
See I have a conflict of interest there - when it comes to using the self-service machines at supermarkets I'm a luddite and would rather go to a counter and be served - but in this regard, I don't see the harm in doing away with the quite antiquated system of sending people round on foot... :|
Author:  big_D [ Sun Oct 11, 2009 4:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
snowyweston wrote:
jonbwfc wrote:
A bigger issue is the utility companies will be able to use smart meters to 'improve efficiency' by making all the people who do the meter readings redundant.
See I have a conflict of interest there - when it comes to using the self-service machines at supermarkets I'm a luddite and would rather go to a counter and be served - but in this regard, I don't see the harm in doing away with the quite antiquated system of sending people round on foot... :|

And the meter readers usually only come when you are at work... If they can read the meters without me having to take time off work, or having to fill in a form and send it back, having to take an early lunch, to find a post office that is open... :?
Author:  jonbwfc [ Sun Oct 11, 2009 5:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
big_D wrote:
And the meter readers usually only come when you are at work... If they can read the meters without me having to take time off work, or having to fill in a form and send it back, having to take an early lunch, to find a post office that is open... :?

Most UK utilities will allow you to submit a meter reading via the internet, usually on your online billing page.

However, I recently moved suppliers and when I submitted an electricity meter reading to my new supplier they said it couldn't possibly be that high and arranged for someone to call when I was in. You'd think they'd know by now the likes of us tend to have enough kit to require our own substation :D.

Jon
Author:  snowyweston [ Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
big_D wrote:
And the meter readers usually only come when you are at work... If they can read the meters without me having to take time off work, or having to fill in a form and send it back, having to take an early lunch, to find a post office that is open... :?
Exactly.
Author:  phantombudgie [ Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
jonbwfc wrote:
However, I recently moved suppliers and when I submitted an electricity meter reading to my new supplier they said it couldn't possibly be that high


I recently moved and the water meter reading was far above what they expected based on the previous customer's "reading" - I guess the previous customer figured they would move before the next company meter check and would save themselves a few quid...
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
snowyweston wrote:
I can only assume they meant the benefits fraud branch of "social worker" - in which case I'm more for it.

that would be covered by housing benefit. Though I would have thought exceptionally high usage should be a reason for the electric company to contact the police, on the basis that a cannabis farm could be in place. Other than that what benefit would social services gain from electricity usage?
Author:  big_D [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
Amnesia10 wrote:
Though I would have thought exceptionally high usage should be a reason for the electric company to contact the police, on the basis that a cannabis farm could be in place. Other than that what benefit would social services gain from electricity usage?

If that is the case, I'll be waiting for them to raid Saspro and find his farm - folding server farm! :lol:
Author:  okenobi [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
As usual, surveillance tech is yet again presented as "helpful". Yes, having people come round has it's own risks and costs. However, allowing the government or big business direct access to information about what goes on in our homes is outrageous and unnecessary.
Author:  paulzolo [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart meters could be 'spy in the home'
Quote:
The DECC document adds households could even have their power to some appliances turned off remotely to help the national grid if there is too much demand.
(my emphasis)

WTF? :o :shock: :evil:
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/