(Hat Tip Instapundit)
The much touted "smart grid" that is supposed to save energy (by turning down your thermostat whether you want to or not) and prevent power outages could have a sinister side effect. You could lose your privacy. The Washington Post's Security Fix blog reports:
[E]xamples of information that utilities and partner companies might be able to glean from more granular power consumption data include whether and how often exercise equipment is used; whether a house has an alarm system and how often it is activated; when occupants usually shower, and how often they wash their clothes.
Other privacy risks could result from the combination of information from two separate users of the smart grid: For example, roaming smart grid devices, such as electric vehicles recharging at a friend's or acquaintance's house, could create or reveal additional personal information.
Hey, how often you use exercise equipment could be combined with other health data to make sure you are living a healthy lifestyle to save money for ObamaCare. Or maybe they decide you take too long of showers and the government cuts off your hot water heater. Looks like all sorts of opportunities for social engineering here.
Do I sound paranoid? Maybe. But am I paranoid enough with the group we have running this country trying to take over health care and cap and trade your energy use?
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