Robotic Witness

frankbell · 11-14-2018, 10:56 AM

New Hampshire police want Alexa to testify in a murder trial.

https://www.boston.com/news/crime/20...e-amazon-alexa

It's still unclear how this will turn out, but it's a safe bet that, as more and more persons invite Big Data into their personal spaces and willingly submit to perpetual surveillance, we'll be seeing more situations such as this one.

Me, I can turn on my own darn light switch.

From the story:

Quote:

Now, a judge has ordered Amazon to turn over any recordings the Echo device may have made from Jan. 27, the day the women were killed, until Jan. 29, when police discovered them tucked beneath a tarp under the back porch.

“The court finds there is probable cause to believe the server(s) and/or records maintained for or by Amazon.com contain recordings made by the Echo smart speaker from the period of Jan. 27 to Jan. 29, 2017 … and that such information contains evidence of crimes committed against Ms. Sullivan, including the attack and possible removal of the body from the kitchen.”

TenTenths · 11-14-2018, 11:14 AM

"Alexa, where can I buy a tarp?"

ondoho · 11-14-2018, 01:02 PM

i had a very south-park-esque vision of Alexa actually appearing on the witness stand, answering questions directed at her:

Quote:

Prosecutor: Alexa, what did you hear between Jan. 27 and Jan. 29?

frankbell · 11-14-2018, 08:16 PM

I am glad that Amazon is concerned about users' privacy. After all, they have already powned it.

But I can't help but wonder whether just possibly maybe it could be that one of the reason Amazon doesn't want to comply with a legitimate order from a sitting judge is that they may not want the extent of Alexa's eavesdropping aired in open court.

Not that I'm cynical or anything like that there.