EFF Challenges Sacramento Police Over Use of Energy Records in Targeted Investigations
Sacramento, CA – July 21, 2025 – The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has filed a lawsuit against the Sacramento Police Department, alleging that the department unlawfully accessed and utilized residential energy consumption data to identify and target suspected marijuana growers. The legal action, filed today, argues that this practice infringes upon the privacy rights of residents and amounts to an unconstitutional search without a warrant.
According to the EFF’s complaint, the Sacramento Police Department, in collaboration with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), reportedly obtained detailed energy usage records for thousands of households. The foundation asserts that this data was then analyzed to pinpoint properties exhibiting unusually high electricity consumption, a pattern the police department correlated with indoor marijuana cultivation.
The EFF contends that this proactive, data-driven approach constitutes a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. By obtaining and scrutinizing this sensitive personal information without probable cause or a warrant, the EFF argues that the police department has overstepped its authority and engaged in a form of mass surveillance.
“Accessing an individual’s energy usage is akin to peering into their home,” stated a representative for the EFF. “This kind of information can reveal deeply personal details about a person’s life, including their daily routines, habits, and even their presence at home. Using it as a broad tool to identify potential criminal activity, without a specific warrant based on individualized suspicion, is a dangerous precedent.”
The lawsuit highlights concerns that such practices could lead to unjustified scrutiny and potential harassment of innocent individuals. While the stated aim is to combat illegal drug operations, the EFF emphasizes the potential for data misuse and the chilling effect it could have on privacy expectations.
The EFF is seeking a court order to prevent the Sacramento Police Department from continuing to access and use SMUD energy data for investigative purposes without obtaining proper warrants. They are also calling for transparency regarding the extent of past data access and analysis.
This case raises critical questions about the balance between law enforcement’s investigative needs and citizens’ fundamental right to privacy in the digital age. As technology provides increasingly granular insights into our lives, the legal framework governing access to such data remains a subject of ongoing debate and legal challenge. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for how law enforcement agencies utilize utility data in future investigations across the country.
Sacramento cops scoured energy records to target suspected weed growers, and the EFF has sued
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