Posted on 07/12/2019 1:54:52 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
A New Mexico man was taken into custody after an Amazon Echo device called the police during an alleged domestic violence incident.
Police say 28-year-old Eduardo Barros got into a physical altercation with his unidentified girlfriend following an argument at a Tijeras residence just outside of Albuquerque on July 2.
Barros, who is also accused of threatening to kill the women while in possession of a firearm, allegedly asked her if she had contacted law enforcement.
“Did you call the sheriffs?” Barros reportedly questioned.
An Amazon virtual assistant plugged into the home’s landline interpreted the question as a command to call police, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Felicia Romero told the New York Post.
An arrest warrant affidavit obtained by The Post indicates that 911 contacted the female moments later, prompting Barros to throw her to the floor after seeing emergency services on her phone’s caller ID.
A SWAT team was dispatched to the residence and eventually took Barros into custody following a stand-off with a crisis negotiation team.
The female sustained minor injuries but was not taken to a hospital. The female’s daughter, who was present during the incident, was unharmed.
Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales told ABC News that the situation could have ended much worse if not for the Amazon device.
“The unexpected use of this new technology to contact emergency services has possibly helped save a life,” the sheriff said. “This amazing technology definitely helped save a mother and her child from a very violent situation.”
Barros, a convicted felon, has been charged with multiple crimes, including possession of a firearm, aggravated battery, and false imprisonment.
While the case highlights an instance in which such technology can potentially be lifesaving, virtual assistants have raised concerns over their invasive nature. Just this week it was revealed that contractors were listening in on audio recordings gathered by Google’s virtual assistant. Amazon employees are doing the same for audio collected by the Echo device as well. Both companies argue that listening in on users is necessary to improve the accuracy of their respective devices.
“Honey, let’s watch this one on TCM called There Is A Man In Our House. Omar Sharif is in it.”
ALEXA: “Calling the Sheriff’s Dept.”
LOL
It’s not like Alexa was listening, determined there was a fight going on and called the Sheriffs on them.
The idiot directly asked Alexa a question that Alexa misinterpreted as a command. The girlfriend or her daughter could have at any time said, “Alexa call the sheriffs”.
Every breath you take.....Every move you make...
There are lots of nice, respectful, steadily employed men out there.
But women like her find them boring and unexciting.
swat team?
someone knowing abusers put on a good facade until they reel a woman in would be good
“If he fires one, i’ll fire one.
Fire one!”
“Yeah, I never trust Alexa. Muted her in my bedroom, too creepy.”
You THINK you muted her. But do you really know?
“This should be a requirement for ALL Police Officers to have their House Raided by a Swat Team annually unannounced.”
Hey, police officers who carry pepper spray & Tasers are required to be sprayed and tazed first, are they not?
Let them be SWATed then, so they know what it’s like and let that influence their judgement as to when it should be utilized.
You and me both.
“The unexpected use of this new technology to contact emergency services has possibly helped save a life,”
Sounds more like it caused her to get beaten.
They have “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” devices where you have to push a button before making contact with the service. Doubt they’re listening 24/7.
I caught flak a couple days ago on FR because I didn’t have all the latest appliances and iphones with snooping stuff. No, thanks. I’ll just be un-cool.
Only wish Alexa would call ICE when it recognizes illegals in the home.
I do not even have an iphone. I tell people that I am not going to have something that is smarter than I am.
You THINK you muted her. But do you really know?
Well, at least she knows how I feel about her.
I got one for Christmas
On December 26th outside, I holler’d “pull”
At that moment Alexa met Mr Winchester
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