Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to buy at least a million dollars worth of robots from Boston Dynamics, the company that makes the dog-like SPOT robots, with the purpose of improving “officer safety,” according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcement.

top 50 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 2 points 14 hours ago
[–] 6 points 1 day ago*

What's the robot dog going to do? I don't think it's very strong and I'm reasonably confident that I can outwit it by going around the corner.

Even Boston dynamics really only advertises it for things like inspections of hazardous areas or remote locations. What's it going to do carry their lunch?

  • source
  • [–] 15 points 1 day ago (1 child)

    My esteem for Boston Dynamics just went into the toilet. They know exactly what ICE is. What a way to end 15 years of innovation and admiration.

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 1 day ago*

    They're were always going to sell these things to the likes of the military and the police, it was unrealistic to expect them not to. So every time they came out and said they wouldn't do anything draconian like that I just rolled my eyes.

    If anyone is surprised by this that's on them for being naive.

  • source
  • parent
  • [+] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)
    [–] 16 points 2 days ago

    If you think this is all for immigration enforcement, you haven't been paying attention.

  • source
  • [–] 12 points 2 days ago (3 children)

    Archive Link

    Seriously, who the fuck posts paywalled shit anymore? Especially from places like 404 where neither u-block nor reader mode gets around it.

  • source
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • load more comments (3 replies)
    [–] 143 points 3 days ago (2 children)

    But Boston Dynamics has ethics and won't do business with ICE, right? Right??

  • source
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 78 points 3 days ago (3 children)

    In the past, they held out and said no. I hope they stand by it now.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 5 child comments
  • [–] 4 points 2 days ago (1 child)

    I just read that corporations are starting to cozy up to Democrats, in anticipation of the Democratic Bloodbath in the Midterms. Perhaps they'll see that supporting MAGA and ICE is a bad idea.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • load more comments (1 reply)
  • [–] 37 points 3 days ago (1 child)

    Depends on who owns them these days. Last I heard they had changed hands a couple times.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 7 points 2 days ago (1 child)

    1 Mill? How many is that, 4 or 5? ICE personnel have never demonstrated themselves to be the sharpest knives in the drawer. Are they even going to be able make any use of them?

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 76 points 3 days ago (2 children)

    It's almost like Congress shouldn't have given a bunch of low IQ fascists a blank fucking check.

  • source
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • load more comments (1 reply)
    [–] 11 points 2 days ago

    So, Black Mirror is literally just the real life “Don’t Invent The Torment Nexus” meme.

  • source
  • [–] 80 points 3 days ago* (4 children)

    These are the robot dogs with the big red button on them you can press and they turn off.

    Some moronic swat team used it recently and then lost it because the barricaded suspect kicked the button.

  • source
  • hideshow 8 child comments
  • [–] 12 points 3 days ago (1 child)

    Its also really easy to yank the battery out if you need to. The battery also only lasts an hour and a half, tops, and depending what attachments are on it the weight and power draw will shorten that. They will only be useful in quick scenarios like breaching buildings in a raid. Range from the controller isnt very far either without wifi connection, you have to follow it around in unconnected locations.

    People tend to imagine strapping a gun to it but really its a scouting tool. Open a door (awkwardly) walk in and look around. Then people follow in and do the work.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 23 points 2 days ago (1 child)
  • [–] 6 points 2 days ago (5 children)

    I forgot how horrifying this episode was. Part of me wants to rewatch, part of me thinks it's too close to our current reality.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] 3 points 2 days ago

    It's such a great episode. Because while the thing is terrifying, it's also vaguely dog-like and clumsy in some of its movements, so you can't help but anthropomorphise a bit.

    But then something that looks kind of cute can still kill you dead.

  • source
  • parent
  • load more comments (4 replies)
  • [–] 5 points 2 days ago

    Humanity sees evil and continues to do nothing about it. No wonder God stays in heaven. Devil has won.

  • source
  • [–] 35 points 3 days ago (3 children)

    We need to normalize absolutely wrecking these robots in public.

  • source
  • hideshow 5 child comments
  • load more comments (1 reply)
    [–] 44 points 3 days ago (2 children)

    So these robots assist with breaking in to private homes in violation of the constitution? Because it doesn't count if a human doesn't break in first?

  • source
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 2 days ago (1 child)

    I wonder how long until someone hacks one and goes on a murder-robot rampage. . ?

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 29 points 3 days ago (1 child)

    I remember that Black Mirror episode.

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 20 points 3 days ago (1 child)

    A million dollars worth? So four?

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • load more comments (1 reply)
    [–] 14 points 3 days ago (5 children)

    Just curious, where is the battery located on these things? Perhaps a nice, spring loaded puncturing device could get through the chassis and puncture the battery

  • source
  • hideshow 5 child comments
  • load more comments (5 replies)
    [–] 9 points 3 days ago (1 child)

    I thought these super creepy gun mount ready robots were built to help blind people or something? Who saw this sort of abuse coming??

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • load more comments (1 reply)
    load more comments
    view more: next ›