"Alexa,Online Selling (2025) please help us solve this crime."
That's a phrase we could be hearing more of in the future, as authorities have recently requested the data from one of Amazon's trusty gadgets, the Amazon Echo, in the hope that it will aid in uncovering additional details about a murder trial.
SEE ALSO: 10 things you should do now that you've welcomed Alexa into your lifePolice in Bentonville, Arkansas have issued a warrant to Amazon to hand over any audio or records from the Echo device of one James Andrew Bates, a man set to go to trial next year for first-degree murder of Victor Collins, who was reportedly found dead in Bates' hot tub last November.
Though Amazon's Echo devices are not necessarily "recording devices," they come equipped with a virtual assistant, Alexa, which users converse with to complete tasks or obtain information.
When a user activates the Echo device with a vocal command it will begin recording for recognition purposes. The recording is then sent to Amazon’s cloud servers so a response can be elicited.
Amazon stores these recordings and makes them available via the Alexa companion smartphone app, just in case you want to review anything in the future. By requesting access to the smart speaker's information as evidence, authorities could use the device history to hear if anything significant was said leading up to the murder.
"Amazon has refused to comply with the warrant. We haven’t recovered anything from the device as a result."
Mashablereached out to The Bentonville Police Department for additional comment and was referred to prosecuting attorney, Nathan Smith, who confirmed police investigating the murder issued a warrant to Amazon.com to turn over audio and other records from the suspect's Echo servers.
"Amazon has refused to comply with the warrant. We haven’t recovered anything from the device as a result," Smith told Mashablevia email.
He believes Amazon is legally required to comply with the warrant and doesn't see how it is any different to a search warrant for a computer.
"If Amazon has concerns about trade secrets or intellectual property rights, there are ways to excise such information from what is provided," Smith said. "I don’t believe there is any rational or legal basis for concluding that one has to comply with a search warrant for one's home or even the drawing of one’s blood, but not a computer."
On the other hand, defense attorney for Bates, Kimberly Weber, feels obtaining the Echo data would be a serious violation of privacy. "You have an expectation of privacy in your home, and I have a big problem that law enforcement can use the technology that advances our quality of life against us," she said.
When asked about the case, an Amazon spokesperson told Mashable, "Amazon will not release customer information without a valid and binding legal demand properly served on us. Amazon objects to overbroad or otherwise inappropriate demands as a matter of course."
This is not the first time technology has played a role in legal matters, nor the first time the question of privacy rights have come into play.
The FBI and Apple engaged in a similar battle earlier this year in regards to an iPhone that was used by San Bernardino gunman Syed Farook.
Since the hot tub appears to have played a part in the murder, authorities have reportedly also taken a look at devices like Bates' water meter, which showed 140 gallons of water were used between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m the night Collins was found dead.
Topics Amazon Amazon Echo
The best day to book your flight, according to Google
Justice Dept. charged three people in connection with the Twitter hack
The new iPhone 12 is going to be late this year
Diddy has so many of his own names to remember he forgot Kendall Jenner's
Hurricane Laura's impact lingered with nightmarish mosquito swarms
Looking at the Obama family rafting together in Bali makes it seem easier to breathe
Someone painted Mark Zuckerberg's face on their nails and he's into it
Justice Dept. charged three people in connection with the Twitter hack
Amazon Pet Day: All the best deals
NASA's Mars Perseverance rover will record sound with a microphone
Shop Owala's Memorial Day Sale for 30% off tumblers
7 of the best international reality shows to binge, binge, binge
Venmo is expanding its contactless payments to CVS stores this fall
The Vatican was reportedly hacked by China
NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for May 18: Tips to solve Connections #237
Tennis legend John McEnroe thinks Serena Williams would rank 700th in the world if she was a man
Facebook boasts that ad boycott won't make a dent
Oops: Etsy decimal point error massively overcharges for shipping
Best iPad deal: Save $132 on Apple iPad (10th Gen)
Facebook sued by news media outlet over 'Russia state
Best Amazon deal: Use code ECHOSPOT25 to save $25NYT Strands hints, answers for May 6Best Kindle deal: Save $40 on Kindle Essentials BundleOn the app Plura, nonBest Mother's Day gift: Get 50% off a year of MasterClassBluetti Solar Generator Elite 200 V2 deal: Take $700 off at AmazonTesla launches cheaper Model YBest earbuds deal: Save 24% on Samsung Galaxy Buds3 ProCardinals, conclaves, and canon law take over the internetOura Ring launches glucose monitoring in partnership with DexcomNYT Connections hints and answers for May 6: Tips to solve 'Connections' #695.Best Beats deal: Save $100 on Beats Solo 4 headphonesGet the noiseBest streaming device deal: Get the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for $20Skullcandy earbuds (2Best Kindle deal: Save $40 on Kindle Essentials BundleJackery Solar Generator 1000 V2 and E100 Plus: Only $499Jackery Solar Generator 1000 V2 and E100 Plus: Only $499The Kindle iOS app finally allows book purchasesNYT Connections hints and answers for May 6: Tips to solve 'Connections' #695. Somewhere in Las Vegas, there's a warehouse containing debris from UFOs Gift ideas for your child that wants a pet that aren't a pet, ranked from worst to best Nobody has ever heard of Oxford Dictionary's word of the year Facebook joins debate over whether social media makes us unhappy The Pupper controller for the Nintendo Switch is adorable In defense of the $1,000 smartphone American Airlines tried to charge a mother $150 for traveling with breast milk Google Chrome launches pop Ryan Reynolds shares cheeky Deadpool photo for Disney/Fox merger A wide range of industries depend on net neutrality Actresses to wear black at Golden Globes to protest Hollywood sexual misconduct 'Harlem Shake' creator Baauer takes on FCC for net neutrality video 'Mr. Robot' fans, today is your lucky day Drake got stood up by an Angelina Jolie fan account :( 5 rules for Star Wars spoilers to get ready for 'The Last Jedi' Dear Disney: Now you own the original 'Star Wars', please bring it back in all its glory 'The Last Jedi' is scoring low with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes Justin Trudeau reviewed 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' in six words and we're sold Peter Jackson reveals Harvey and Bob Weinstein's 'smear campaign' Minion steals part of guy's lawn then tags him on Facebook
2.3135s , 8223.9296875 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Online Selling (2025)】,Inspiration Information Network