"But I think most people are less bothered about privacy than they once were – most don't really seem to mind. "What do these IoT devices actually listen to? Everything that goes on around them or just what happens after hearing their wake-up phrase? Clive insists IoT is a force for good, despite privacy campaigners fears of a nightmarish 1984-style world where every move is monitored by shadowy hidden figures. It's something that reared its head in another 2017 case where a man was charged with his wife's murder after her Fitbit data contradicted his story. This data can be looked at individually or collectively, to help potentially establish a person's whereabouts, or flag up any deviations from a routine." When you're out and about, your Fitbit or Apple Watch will keep tabs on you, and provide a constant stream of data on your whereabouts. "You've got the Echo that will know when you've been at home, or remote-controlled heating and lighting systems that establish a routine. When things are constantly connected to the internet, it's going to provide a huge amount of data for crime solving People will be constantly leaving electronic 'trails' wherever they go. "When things are constantly connected to the internet, it's going to provide a huge amount of data for crime solving. "I think will help generate a lot more evidence," he tells us. Clive Halperin, a London-based lawyer and tech expert is enthusiastic about the prospect of "smart" crime scenes. In the UK, detectives are now being trained to look for connected home devices that could hold clues. Law enforcement officials, legal experts, scientists and corporations are already working hard to exploit the growth of IoT devices, while also trying to maximize the chances of accessing any useful data. Later, in December 2017, the murder charges against Bates were dropped but the wrangle had already made headlines across the globe, highlighting how the growing popularity of "always online" Internet of Things devices mean our homes now offer police a wealth of potentially useful data, should we become victims of crime.Įverything from doorbells that connect directly to smartphone apps – showing who has rung and who hasn't – fridges with in-built cameras, and even washing machines and smart light bulbs are now potential witnesses. He did so before a judge could rule whether or not the Amazon Echo had a First Amendment right to privacy. They said the voice-activated device may have recorded what happened to Collins, or offer significant clues about the run-up to his death.īates denied the crime – and in April 2017 volunteered access to the relevant data.
But police who began probing the case in November 2015 probably didn't realise his murder would trigger a dramatic court battle over an unlikely witness to the slaying – an Amazon Echo.Ĭollins' killing at the Arkansas home of his friend James Bates sparked a legal tussle as Benton County prosecutors sought to force the internet giant to disclose recordings that could potentially have nailed the killing to Bates. The discovery of former police officer Victor Collins' battered body floating in a blood-stained hot tub was a grim one.