Data examples by The University of Edinburgh https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6 en-us 2020-04-21 11:51:59 UTC 2025-10-25 18:24:50 UTC hello@padlet.com Instructions moocdeliveryteam https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/520005705
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    • ]]>     2020-04-21 11:52:32 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/520005705     Smart meter backlash https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/586881786 https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jun/24/smart-meters-spying-collecting-private-data-french-british

    This smart meter backlash confused me initially, so I chose this question to research. In France there was backlash due to concern that they were to be used as a trojan horse, as it could tell when the user would be in a shower, cooking, in and out of the home, and therefore that data could be shared with telemarketing firms to time when is best to call. 

    This concern is not unfounded, with companies springing up which analyse the recorded data to create user profiles. Although the utility companies distributing the meters state that no data is being transmitted beyond what was normally recorded and it is not individualised, nor can it be sold on to third parties without the users knowledge.]]>     2020-05-21 12:52:21 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/586881786     Echo: Conversation Extractor Device https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/589959305 "However, that's where it gets worse. Amazon has actually hired a team of people around the world to analyze snippets of conversations that Echo devices secretly record and upload—without the user's consent or knowledge—to the cloud, claiming it will improve Alexa's "customer experience". Unfortunately, the data is not really being anonymized and can be traced back to the actual owner of the smart speaker." https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanbaptiste/2019/05/16/why-amazon-alexa-is-always-listening-to-your-conversations-analysis/#41e84eb32378 --- We are the ones being hacked. Yes. Anonymity of conversations in the cloud should be stipulated in their company privacy policy, communicated to readers and give them a clear option for giving/or not giving consent. The consent part will take more details than would fit here, so please take this info as one that should be interpreted loosely. This is a good exercise btw.]]> 2020-05-23 02:53:17 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/589959305 Alexa know too much https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/590286397 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/oct/09/alexa-are-you-invading-my-privacy-the-dark-side-of-our-voice-assistants

    I remember when I first signed up for Amazon, I would get great suggestions for books to buy based on what books I had already purchased. I thought this is great. Now, put something much more robust in your home listening to you and recording what you say for analysis. This article explores a few of the things that could go wrong. ]]>     2020-05-23 12:21:01 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/590286397     Your loving "Nest" becomes everyones backdoor to your privacy. https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/591440574 https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/business/2019/02/12/smart-home-devices-like-nest-thermostat-hacked/39049903/

    One can only assume that a home device owned by Google will be integrated to other sources of data Google uses in order to profile you... The data and metadata collected can be limitless, one might even worry that facial recognition is the next "cool" feature of devices like Nest cameras opening the route to yet more concerns for your and your loved ones privacy. In addition to the risks linked to data reaped "contractually", how about the data that is accessed by bad 3rd party actors? This article is chilling and I agree - as if straight our of a successful series.]]>     2020-05-24 15:12:04 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/591440574     Smart Homes Aid Domestic Abuse https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/591529091 https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200511-how-smart-home-devices-are-being-used-for-domestic-abuse

    This is an interesting read and angle that I had never considered before. Basically it describes some cases where smart devices have been used to facilitate domestic abuse by making possible for abusers to snoop and control their victims lives. Obviously this is pretty alarming and even more so if you consider that individual domestic abuse could be extended to larger groups if such devices became compromised. Extortionists could hold entire communities to ransom by leveraging private information gained from smart home devices. ]]>     2020-05-24 16:17:17 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/591529091     Customers surprised Nova Scotia Power upgraded meters without permission https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/592106190 The data is on power usage in the residence and would likely be used by the power company to determine the amount to bill the resident.
    The article states the power company would have acces to the data, but perhaps the resident may have access to it, or to a report about it, which may influence their usage pattern if favourable rates are availble during off-peak usage hours.  Perhaps in some countries there may be a backlash if the meters also allow power companies to control the amount of available electricity to avoid overusage that would strain the power source.  That would take control away from residents.]]>     2020-05-25 01:26:15 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/592106190     Smart Home, smart home: how safe will you really be in the house of the future? https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/592773823 The case for smart homes for the elderly is that it enables them to stay in their home for longer, and may have the potential to save the NHS billions through preventative actions and monitoring, as most of us make heaviest use of the NHS in old age. However whether you’re tracking an individual inside or outside the home, you are still tracking them, and the sorts of data you’re likely to be tracking is highly sensitive, person data, which may impact on the dignity of that individual (toileting habits anyone?). The article outlines potential problems in that hacked data could let criminals know when an elderly person has gone to sleep, or worse, terrorists could remotely hack into heating systems and turn them all off in winter, causing death and devastation. Issues of consent amongst vulnerable people who may not understand the technology or know how to operate it safely are also concerns. ]]> 2020-05-25 11:32:15 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/592773823 It's not just privacy at stake https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/593668570 I live in a country that was among the first to enshrine same-sex relationship rights.  This followed a long period of lobbying, protest and similar efforts to see a law change (it was previously illegal for me to enter same sex relationships but not women).  However, technically speaking, at the time the people who were seeking the change were breaking the law.  Fortunately, ethics triumphed over the letter of the law.  But I have to wonder what would have happened in an Alexa-type environment?  Would same-sex couples be legitimate, or would we still be handing down punishments on gay men?  The fact is that the ability to assemble in private, to generate, apply, and share resources in the name of a humanitarian change would have been deeply at risk.  Should the state have been willing (and we've our share of cases where our watchdogs crossed important lines) it would have had ample ways to identify the leaders in the thinking and the movement, as well as cast-iron legal proof of 'wrongdoing'.  A huge part of how we, as individuals, defines ourselves and seek to widen society's thinking in many respects requires some private 'incubation' space.  Inviting a wiretap into the home, arguably the last bastion of privacy,  has the potential to deal that a fatal blow.  Nothing could hasten the onset of a dystopian nightmare than the willing surrender of the privacy of the home.
     ]]>     2020-05-25 21:37:18 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/593668570     Elderly in smart homes, stasha_neagu https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiegold/2019/12/06/boomers-and-seniors-finding-great-benefits-from-smart-home-technology/#751f0cd968ec https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/593982795 Automation at home can extend the ability for seniors to stay in their homes rather than moving to assisted facilities, allowing them to keep their dignity and enjoy their retirement years. The usability of the interfaces to these devices is critical - if not adapted to the people with varying degrees of disabilities including failing eyesight and dexterity, they can create adverse effect on this vulnerable population. This population could be reluctant to be surrounded by automation and would require the ability to override it as well as more intuitive way to maintain security to eliminated vulnerabilities due to user forgetting to manage security features. ]]> 2020-05-26 04:23:56 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/593982795 Alexa for the elderly - a different approach? https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/595262424 https://storiicare.com/blog/alexa-for-seniors/ The below blog post outlines the benefits of using Alexa for patients with dementia, give the ease of use and the provision of basic information. Whereas there is no claim to replace the care that the individuals are getting from other sources, there is a pressing question to be posed related to the human-IoT interaction in cases of patients. Specifically, do the devices need to converse and provide information in different ways? Do we need the skills targeted to individual with particular mental health and neurological conditions to be developed by medical professionals? Are we comfortable that the usage is superficial/benign (asking about the weather or the time) or that patients start relying on the device more and more for their social interactions/companionship? 

    ]]>     2020-05-26 16:59:47 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/595262424     IoT and women abuse https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/595848028 How Smart Home Systems & Tech Have Created A New Form Of Abuse
    Designed to make life easy, web-connected devices are being used against women to harass, track, and even lock them in their own homes.

    ]]>     2020-05-26 23:21:42 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/595848028     New Privacy and Security Threat from Smart Devices https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/598017127 https://www.governmentcomputing.com/systems-software/news/university-of-liverpool-iot-devices-study
    What this article mentions is really scary, in few words the combination of data gathered by all your smart home devices combined could configure most of your biometrics. It means that someone with dark purposes could use all your data including face recognition to access your accounts and personal information among others. One question is: Having just a smartphone means a big privacy risk?]]>     2020-05-27 22:56:52 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/598017127     https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/the-10-biggest-security-risks-in-today-s-smart-home-53081#smart-home-appliances-recording-without-permission https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/602760365 This article highlights the multitude of ways a smart home can be at risk of abuse from cyber criminals, without leaving any trace of such activity.]]> 2020-05-30 21:54:22 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/602760365 https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/doc/2019/trust-opportunity-exploring-consumer-attitudes-to-iot/ https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/611043991 Most people do not trust IoT data gathering, usage or management. There are businesses who are making the case that people must learn to trust the IoT (and that they can help). However, the thing with IoT data is, it is essentially invisible, super massive and very very specific. To what extent is this use of data not about control and manipulation?

    ]]>     2020-06-04 13:52:01 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/611043991     When privacy costs https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/612040829 https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jun/24/smart-meters-spying-collecting-private-data-french-british

    This article describes the backlash in France against "Linky" - the smart meter installed by EDF, the electricity supplier. Opponents claim health and privacy issues, but the health issues have been ruled out by studies (and I'd want to check their methods etc). 
    Proponents state that the meters send only minimal data once per day, yet the article describes companies that claim to analyse the data and classify households. Such data would be a goldmine, from knowing when people cook (cookers are high usage), take showers, go on holiday, etc. 
    I wonder if there is a disconnect between what a smart meter connected app shows - details of usage etc - and what is sent from the meter. 
    You could imagine the electricity company offering discounts to people who were willing to allow their data to be sold on for analysis. It could be dressed up as "informing the customer", but those on tighter budgets may feel obliged to opt-in, sacrificing their privacy for the discount - only those who can afford it stay private.]]>     2020-06-04 23:04:37 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/612040829     Aging in pace https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/622667425 https://www.dwell.com/article/9-smart-home-devices-for-aging-in-place-5528881a

    An article about 9 Smart devices that should rende the ageing easier in a safer home. Basically from the article, it can be seen that very private data is being gather by the devices such as the place where the Internet connection is coming from, the monitoring of doors hence the people coming in and out of the house, etc… The misuse of these data can be huge as it concerns very specific and private data for an entire category of the population.

    ]]>     2020-06-11 15:28:35 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/622667425     Shhh... ECHO is Always Listening https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/624230493
    One of things not highlighted in the article regarding the Bates Murder case, is the debate whether devices such as ECHO or Alexa are "always listening", irrespective of the utterance of the 'Wake Word'.

     It is counter-intuitive to suggest so, but upon thought such a possibility seems highly probable. This is so, as the Echo Device must be 'actively listening' to the sounds in its surroundings, in order to capture the wake-word to 'wake-up'

    If this is the Modus Operandi, then it definitely constitutes as a violation of Privacy. ]]>     2020-06-12 15:32:10 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/624230493     SMART HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/09/internet-of-things-smart-devices-spying-surveillance-us-government https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/624402699 This is an example of the social concerns with the internet of things. It is a great concern particularly in the context of the elderly because they might not be knowing what is going on.]]> 2020-06-12 17:35:25 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/624402699 https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/21/20924886/alexa-google-home-security-vulnerability-srlabs-phishing-eavesdropping https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/628049434 New vulnerability found in  Amazon and
     Google Home speakers related to third-party apps

    ]]>     2020-06-15 22:25:03 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/628049434     'dumb' smart meters https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/641628541 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/bills-and-utilities/gas-electric/one-million-smart-meters-currently-dumb-mode/

    with a lack of communication, shared / privacy-preserving APIs these meters only work with their specific originating energy companies - there might be a usage screen that users can see (much like very early simple remote-screen meters) that at least allows the home owner to think 'oh, thats a little high, what can i turn off' but all the promises of the smart meter with additional controls, feedback etc are lost

    ]]>     2020-06-27 11:00:47 UTC https://padlet.com/moocdeliveryteam/iperbgu4xfn20tj6/wish/641628541