Former AG: Echo’s role in murder case likely just the beginning

We’re moving into an age where our daily lives are being digitally stored, and former Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna says it will become routine for law enforcement to use data collected from the latest technological crazes to build cases.

Just like the computer and cellphone, items such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home will not only be used to make our lives easier but to build up potential evidence.

“We live in a world where all this data is being amassed in the cloud — in this case on Amazon’s servers,” McKenna told Seattle’s Morning News.

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The case he’s referring to is that of an investigation into the death of an Arkansas man named Victor Collins whose body was found in a hot tub. Authorities are now trying to obtain evidence of foul play that may have been overheard by the suspect’s Amazon Echo smart speaker.

Amazon has objected to “overbroad” requests. However, prosecutors have asked the court to force Amazon to provide the data that may reveal more clues about the Collins’ death.

The Benton County prosecuting attorney said that he has no idea if the device recorded anything related to the death. But looking for clues is simply “a question of law enforcement doing their due diligence.”

McKenna says Amazon may prefer to be forced to give up any data because it shows customers the company takes user protection seriously.

The data an Echo creates is subject to police search warrants, McKenna says. That is, when police have probable cause. A legitimate reason and court order are key.

If the idea of something used in your home can also be used against you in court is an unnerving thought, McKenna reminds us that it’s easy to lose track of how much information we give up willingly on a daily basis.

“We often lose track about the massive amount of information we voluntarily turn over to third parties,” McKenna said.

We’re like frogs jumping into a pot of boiling water, we willingly jump in, but before we know it, all our privacy rights have been boiled away.

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