Police track down fugitives thanks to Spotify, Netflix

[Dirk Libbey]

So here's a new and interesting way for the police to locate fugitives on the lam. Authorities were able to track down two children taken from Colorado to Mexico because one of the abductors was an avid user of Spotify and Netflix.

Peter Barr and Brittany Nunn allegedly abducted Nunn's two children, ages 4 and 6, after Nunn lost a custody battle in Colorado last December. Police were unable to locate any of them when Sheriff's investigator Drew Weber had an interesting idea. He requested a warrant for her Spotify accounts. He was then able to use the information to track the couple down to an IP address in Mexico. Later he pulled information on her Netflix, and other unspecified accounts.

When Nunn received a package in Cabo San Lucas, Weber was able to find the exact location of the fugitives. Investigators actually had their eye on them for a couple months while extradition was worked out with Mexican officials. The children are now home. Nunn and Barr are facing felony charges.

While there are certainly downsides to the always-connected lifestyle, it's interesting to see how law enforcement can use new tools to do their jobs. Something like this may become much more common going forward as so many people have streaming service accounts. It could potentially be used as a method to find almost anybody. If the idea of people being able to find you makes you nervous however, just be aware that it means doing without your favorite tunes.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/61340-police-track-down-fugitives-thanks-spotify-netflix.html

 

[Guest]

While this is a positive story. It essentially endorses piracy to those who believe in their right to privacy. Everyone knows the NSA is overstepping their boundaries. If Netflix and Spotify share private information with law enforcement, it isn't too far of a stretch to assume they do so with the NSA as well.

Hope to see some less predictable responses (not the same "you're a nobody" or "if you have nothing to hide"... etc). Either way I'll leave you with a couple timeless quotes:

"Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one." - Benjamin Franklin

"They must find it difficult, those who have taken authority as truth, rather than truth as authority." -Gerald Massey

 

[Guest]

If they narrowed down the search by using IP's. It just shows the need to always use TOR and VPN's. etc.

 

[PinothyJ]

What crap, Guest. These organisations were issues a warrant and they complied. That is EXACTLY how the legal system is supposed to work.

 

[Guest]

Here's a thought....don't use your real name. If you want to use the services, then get a prepaid visa or MC card and create an email address that is NOT you.

It is NOT against the law, and you will be protecting yourself more than you realize.

 

[cliffordcooley]

They needed "God's Eye" from "Furious 7".

 

[wiyosaya]

I've seen other stories like this, and it seems that most of them are not technically savvy .

Here's a thought....don't use your real name. If you want to use the services, then get a prepaid visa or MC card and create an email address that is NOT you.

It is NOT against the law, and you will be protecting yourself more than you realize.

My thoughts exactly.

Big Brother IS watching you!