Jason Chen, the editor of the popular Gizmodo technology blog, recently paid more than three thousand pounds to get a prototype of an iPhone that was found in a bar in Redwood City, California. This iPhone is expected to be the next edition of Apple’s popular mobile device. Chen’s report states that a video chat camera, a noise cancellation microphone and a new display are going to be featured on the device.
However, after he paid to get this prototype his home was raided. A number of computers and other materials were seized from his home. This is a raid that was used for his data. It is a raid that is being questioned with regards to whether or not this was necessary.
Lawyers who are representing Chen state that his rights should be protected by a shield law that is used in the state of California. This is used as a law that works to give a writer like Chen the right to not bother with giving out information on one’s sources while that writer was gathered information for a story. All unpublished materials that a writer has to work with can also be protected from any investigation.
The raid on Chen’s home was conducted by the San Mateo County police. This was done after Apple reported that its prototype was stolen by Chen. Apple was able to figure this out thanks to how Chen posted information on the prototype that he received on the Gizmodo website.
When the raid took place members of the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team of California seized a number of materials from Chen’s home. These include USB memory devices and hard drives alongside some of the computers that Chen has.
The raid is being defended by officials as one that is justified. Steve Wagstaffe, the district attorney in San Mateo County, argues that he felt that the shield laws that would normally protect a reporter would not apply in this case. Also, local police knew at the time of the person who took the phone and gave it to Chen. This person was interviewed with regards to this data.
However, this has been a highly debatable concern. While Chen has posted information on the prototype online his reports were ones that were based on general insider information. His report is considered to be the main breaking source for details on this new device. It has even been viewed by nearly ten million people since an information page on the device was posted on the Gizmodo website on 19 April.
What is known about the source of the device is that it was left by Gray Powell inside of a bar. Powell is a software engineer who works for Apple. Apple treated the case of the missing prototype as a theft case.
The data on the computers and drives that were seized from Chen is currently unknown. The computers will be checked as soon as it is determined whether or not the raid of his home was justified.
