Privacy vs. Policing: Maine’s Electric Company’s Plan To Expose Illegal Cannabis Grows Sparks Debate
As Maine grapples with the expansion of illegal cannabis grow houses hidden in rural settings, a new proposal by Versant Power to report unusually high electricity consumption directly to law enforcement has sparked a debate over privacy rights and the role of utility companies.
Versant Proposes Reporting High Electricity Use To Law Enforcement
Versant Power, responding to frequent subpoenas for electrical data in locations suspected of harboring illegal operations, suggested a proactive approach to the Maine Public Utilities Commission, reported The Associated Press. Arrian Myrick-Stockdell, the company’s corporate counsel, highlighted the efficiency of such reporting, noting, “Versant has a very high success rate in being able to identify these locations, but we have no ability to communicate with law enforcement proactively.”
Privacy Advocates Warn Of Constitutional Violations
This proposal, however, was not warmly received by all. Privacy advocates, including the nonprofit Electronic …