A power utility is reporting suspected pot growers to cops. EFF says that’s illegal.
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has reportedly flagged over 33,000 Sacramento-area residents to the sheriff's department for suspected illegal cannabis cultivation based on high electricity usage. Two residents, Alfonso Nguyen and Brian Decker, were confronted by deputies accusing them of growing cannabis, leading to invasive searches and public humiliation. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has filed a motion in Sacramento Superior Court, arguing that SMUD's actions violate privacy laws. SMUD's practice of reporting suspected growers to law enforcement based on electricity consumption has raised legal concerns.
Ars Technica•