Are Alexa Commands Free Speech?
Regular readers know, I'm a pretty big fan of the Amazon Echo, but I respect skeptics that worry about Alexa providing yet another way for you to be tracked. That concern got a lot more real last year when prosecutors in Arkansas subpoenaed the Echo records of a suspected murderer. Now Amazon is claiming that Alexa voice commands are protected speech. The company also makes the case that Alexa responses are also constitutionally protected under the First Amendment. Whatever the merits of this particular case, it looks like we are going to get a ruling on both issues soon. The results could have a major impact on the future of the digital home.
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