Wearable Devices Could Keep Innocent People out of Jail—If the Court Allows It

Wearable Devices Could Keep Innocent People out of Jail—If the Court Allows It
A jogger runs during the sunset after a warm spring day on March 16, 2015, in the Olympic park in Munich, southern Germany. Meteorologists forecast temperatures around 15 degrees and further sun in the region. AFP PHOTO/CHRISTOF STACHE Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images
Jonathan Zhou
Updated:

Sometime in March of this year, Jeannine Risley flew from Florida to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, staying overnight in her boss’s guest bedroom. 

In the morning, she filed a police report, claiming that an unknown man had broken into her boss’s home and raped her at knifepoint. 

During the investigation, the police found her Fitbit — a “wearable” fitness device that, strapped to your wrist, tracks your movements, heartbeat, quality of sleep, and other physical metrics — which, once examined, told a different story. 

The Fitbit Force is displayed in the Fitbit booth at the 2014 International CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Jan. 7, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nev. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The Fitbit Force is displayed in the Fitbit booth at the 2014 International CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Jan. 7, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nev. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Jonathan Zhou
Jonathan Zhou
Author
Jonathan Zhou is a tech reporter who has written about drones, artificial intelligence, and space exploration.
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