In murder case, Amazon says Alexa's speech is protected by the First Amendment

Add yet another skill to Alexa's repertoire: staunch defense of the First Amendment. 

Amazon is holding firm and refusing to hand over voice and transcription data recorded by an Echo speaker to prosecutors in Arkansas as part of a murder trial. 

Amazon maintains the authorities haven't clearly established that the investigation is more important than a customer's privacy rights, according to an AP report, and claims the recorded data and Alexa's responses are protected under the First Amendment. 

Last week, the company filed a 91-page motion (obtained by Ars Technica) with the Benton County Circuit Court to kill the search warrant.   Read more...