Smart Meters fail data privacy tests

What you didn't know about your fitness tracker and your right to privacy

by Adrian Weckler
     Irish Independent

Irish Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon

Smart electricity meters and wearable fitness trackers are failing Irish people’s privacy, according to a new report by the data protection regulator.

Helen Dixon’s office will now “step up” audits of technology devices after a survey of 300 ‘internet of things’ devices found “alarming shortfalls in the management of personal data by developers and suppliers”.

The study also involved 25 other data protection authorities. It showed that three quarters of device manufacturers failed to explain how customers could delete their information. It also showed that two thirds of manufacturers failed to explain how information was stored, while three in five failed to explain how personal information would be collected and processed. Just over a third of manufacturers failed to include easily identifiable contact details if customers had privacy concerns.

In the Irish area of study, nine devices were investigated ranging from smart electricity meters to fitness trackers. The data regulator declined to name the manufacturers involved.

However, the office is considering action “against those who are found to be in breach of legislation”.

“The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is planning to scale up investigative and audit work in this area in 2017,” said John Rogers, the data watchdog’s senior investigations officer who coordinated the Irish sweep. “We have already begun to schedule audits of devices in the technology sector. The purpose of these audits will be to gauge compliance with the Data Protection Acts and to work with companies to ensure that their products are meeting the required standards.”

The sweep was coordinated by the Global Privacy Enforcement Network, an informal network of global data protection agencies.

Source: Fliuch, Sept 23, 2016
             Irish Independent, Sept 22, 2016
 

Irish Independent, Sept 22, 2016

Irish Water to get €660m bailout

Irish Water will get a €660m bailout this year but a decision to suspend water charges could have “big consequences” for funding other services next year, warns Housing Minister Simon Coveney.

by Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner

His suggestion was backed by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe who said funding for Irish Water would compete with other demands such as housing.

The pre-budget cautions put Fine Gael directly at odds with Fianna Fáil, which wants water charges suspended indefinitely. Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday accused Fianna Fáil of a “reversal to old-school populism” in insisting water charges not be reintroduced.

Funding for Irish Water is being considered by a commission on water charges, due to report in November.

Mr Coveney said the 2017 position on funding for Irish Water is dependent on what the commission and a follow-up Dáil committee conclude.

It had been planned that the subvention, or bailout, for Irish Water would be €479m. Irish Water estimates its shortfall from water charges to be €181m for this year. This brings the total subvention needed for Irish Water this year to €660m, Mr Coveney told the Oireachtas housing committee.

The €181m shortfall will be plugged by the €110m that was to go to the water conservation grant, a €58m loan to Irish Water, and another €13m still to be found.

Mr Coveney said the €110m from the conservation grant would not be there next year. “Let’s be honest about this, if the Oireachtas decides to do away with water charges, then we still need to progress and deliver on the significant capital expenditure programme that Irish Water needs to deliver on,” he said.

“That will have to come through other revenue raising and presumably general taxation, which then limits our ability to spend in other areas and also undermines the water conservation incentive that comes with having some link between what people pay and how much they use, never mind all the issues around water directives.”

Funding for Irish Water will be discussed when the commission reports and in the context of the budget, the committee was told.

Mr Coveney said: “But the choices we make have consequences, big consequences, because regardless of what way you cut it, we have to invest billions of euros over the next five years in water infrastructure and it has got to be paid for. The only question we have to decide is, do we pay for that through general taxation; do we pay for it through a combination of general taxation and direct charging that tries to incentivise conservation and water management; or do we go back to a previous charging system?”

He added: “There is a big cost if we decide not to have revenue stream coming from water provision to domestic houses. There are big consequences in terms of the flow of money in and out of government.”

Separately, Mr Coveney warned local authorities not to expect the Government to “pick up the tab” if they reduce property taxes next year. Some 16 councils cut rates last year and 11 had done so this year, he said.

The warning on water was also made by Mr Donohoe, when he told a separate committee about budget preparations. Water treatment coming directly from general taxation would “directly compete with other needs” including housing, he said.

Source: Irish Examiner, Sept 22, 2016

Water charges ‘unlikely’ to return, declares Micheál Martin

Water charges are “unlikely” to be reintroduced, the leader of Fianna Fáil has declared, ahead of a special commission deciding on the future of water services and how they should be funded.

by Juno McEnroe

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin addresses the media prior to the annual parliamentary party think-in at the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow. He confirmed his party will not support a Dáil motion by Sinn Féin next week to abolish water charges. Picture: Conor McCabe

Micheál Martin also confirmed that his party will not back a Sinn Féin motion in the Dáil next week to abolish water charges, even though Fianna Fáil ultimately wants to scrap bills for households.

He outlined how his party had effectively delivered the end to water charges after bills were frozen under the confidence and supply deal with the Fine Gael-minority government.

A government-appointed commission on water charges is due to produce a report on the future of managing services in November, after which an Oireachtas committee will examine the issue and the Dáil may act on it.

Mr Martin said charges, currently frozen, were ultimately unlikely to be reintroduced.

He said no Dáil motion could scrap water charges and that only a Dáil money bill could abolish bills.

He said the ‘confidence and supply’ deal with Fine Gael had “essentially got rid” of water charges.

“The only way that water charges can be reintroduced is via legislation by this Dáil and that is unlikely given the configuration of parties within the Dáil,” he said.

More than 90 TDs were elected to the Dáil this year on promises to reform or abolish charges.

Fianna Fáil, which supported the Government on the basis that bills were frozen, has told the commission charges should be abolished. The party rejects claims it has done a U-turn, in the event of a snap election being called.

Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil would remain “faithful” to the commission and there would not have been a government without it being set up.

However, he agreed that, regardless of the outcome of the commission, water charges were “unlikely” to be reintroduced.

Mr Martin was asked whether he thought the charges would be abolished.

“I do, but there are other wider issues besides just charges which fall to be considered,” he said.

He accused Sinn Féin, who are set to introduce a bill to scrap charges in the Dáil next week, of “playacting” in relation to their motion.

“Motions on their own cannot get rid of charges, only legislation can,” he said.

Sinn Féin says its motion presents Fianna Fáil with an opportunity to stop “flip-flopping” on the issue.

MEP Lynn Boylan said: “The reality is we do not have to wait nine months for a so-called expert commission to recommend the scrapping of water charges.

“The Dáil can vote in favour of abolition as early as next week and, in doing so, deliver what people actually voted for at the general election in February.

“They didn’t vote for a suspension of water charges. People want to see them scrapped.”

Source: Irish Examiner, Sept 20, 2016