The FBI successfully located a kidnapped 15-year-old girl during the summer of 2022 by using the IP address from her Nintendo Switch. The captor, a 28-year-old male named Ethan Roberts who had been friendly with the girl, was apprehended due to the unique digital footprint left by the girl's activities.

After taking her Nintendo Switch during the kidnap incident, the girl downloaded a game and watched a YouTube video which helped the FBI pinpoint her location via the device's IP address.

Roberts received his sentencing in April 2023 and is due to spend 30 years in prison for producing images of child sexual abuse, kidnapping a minor, and engaging in illegal sexual activities with a minor.

Retired Arizona DPS Director Frank Milstead, who was part of the investigative team, solemnly warns wrongdoers that the police are always watching and that everywhere they go, they leave a digital footprint. He further assures that they will be found, highlighting the importance of digital traces in modern law enforcement.