New Security Issues With Smart Grids And “The Internet Of Things”

Attorneys from McGuire Woods consider some of the security, privacy and liability risks that come with the Internet of things, looking specifically at the smart grid. Smart-grid technology will allow both the electric utilities and consumers to manage the product more efficiently, but as part of the technology a lot of personal data will be routinely transferred from the consumer to the utility. Some recent court cases suggest the kinds of issues that could arise. When hackers managed to pirate video data from hundreds of baby-sitter type devices that allow parents to remotely monitor their sleeping children, the FTC came down on the company that made the monitoring system, which had promised security, for unfair and deceptive trade practices.