It was stated in the article that is was only zip codes that were available in the clear. The trouble is, if you can collect enough information about a smart home to determine it’s address, and you can find out when/if the thermostat is turned way down during daylight hours, you pretty much KNOW with some certainty the home isn’t occupied by humans.
2pm on a cold winter day, thermostat 59 degrees. It doesn’t start bringing up the temp until 4pm.
What does that tell you? No people, no kids and at 59 degrees probably no major pets either unless it’s something with a winter coat.
This use of technology is beyond a horrible idea. It should broadcast absolutely nothing on the internet. These devices can do these jobs with local information. Or with one way communication only.
Just wait until the contents of your refrigerator are part of the “internet of things”