Amazon Echo To Help Solve Murder Case; After Initial Resistance, Amazon Hands Over The Echo Recordings To Help Case

By Jeff Thompson - 08 Mar '17 05:30AM

Amazon has agreed to hand over the home assistant recordings to help to solve a murder case. Initially, the firm refused to provide the information stating First Amendment. But, it is reported that upon the consent of the defendant James Andrew Bates, the firm handed over the recordings on March 3, to assist a murder trial in Arkansas.

Last month, Amazon made a strong defense against releasing of the recordings by referring that the home assistant's data are protected by First Amendment. It is now confirmed that the firm has handed over the audios from Bates' home assistant for the days November 21 and 22, 2015. The attorney of Bates, Kathleen Zellner tweeted that it was with the consent of the defendant and claimed that her client is innocent.

#alexa-powered #amazon Echo speaker might solve a murder case https://t.co/7n8N99DX2z pic.twitter.com/YIlalDl823

— Android Authority (@AndroidAuth) March 7, 2017

The new development is considered to be a significant landmark in the case of technology devices and law enforcement. Most of the major tech firms are showing a tendency to not to provide the information recorded or stored in their devices regarding a crime, by stating it is breaching the privacy of the customers.

It is found that devices like Amazon Echo can track the movements and activities of the user, and it can be vital for solving major crimes. Apple's fight with FBI was also in similar circumstances for unlocking the phone of a terrorist, and it did not bring any desired result for the investigating agencies.

Bates was arrested last year as a suspect in a first-degree murder, is now free on a bond of $350,000. The case was related to the death of Victor Collins, who was found dead in the hot tub at the home of Bates. Since the house was found to have activated with Amazon Echo, the officials sent a warrant to Amazon to provide details of voice records.

However, Amazon only provided partial information and said that the officials should show the relevancy of recordings with the crime and should prove it has heightened need of the audio. As the defendant agreed to release the data, now the dispute is closed.