When Victor Collins was found dead in a friend ’s raging tub in Bentonville , Arkansas last November , there were few bystanders on the shot — other than his friend and accuse killer , James Andrew Bates . But prosecuting attorney are insisting there was another attestant that nighttime with potentially valuable information : an Amazon Echo .
Accordingto ABC News , the Benton County pursuance has requested “ audio recording , transcribed records , text records , and other data point ” from an Echo smart speaker belonging to Bates with the hope that it will leave clues to Collins ’s death . Collins died of patent strangulation and drown on November 22 , 2015 at Bates ’s home , after the pair spent the eveningwatching football and drinkingwith two other friends .
Benton County public prosecutor Nathan Smith is n’t certain what — if anything — they might find on the Echo , an internet - plug into loudspeaker system that listens for substance abuser voice commands and speak back as the AI supporter “ Alexa . ” He simply sees it as “ a question of police enforcement doing their due industry . ” But for Amazon and its substance abuser , that interrogative is not so unproblematic .
While Amazon has provided Bates ’s basic news report information , the company has not relinquish the Echo data . For the technical school giant , it ’s a topic of protect its customers ’ privacy . Amazon spokeswoman Kinley Pearsallsaid in a statementthat the company “ will not expel customer information without a valid and binding legal need ” and maintained that Amazon rejects “ overbroad or otherwise inappropriate demand as a issue of course . ”
secrecy advocates like Nuala O’Connor , Chief Executive of the Center for Democracy and Technology , are likewise concerned about what this case could mean for evidence rules regarding internet - connected place devices moving forward . Sheworriesthat if this case sets a precedent , police force could build a circumstantial character vignette from a defendant ’s smart thermostat or light dimmer . But for now , legal and privacy experts will have to waitress until March 17 , when Bates is scheduled for his next royal court hearing .
[ h / tABC News ]
