Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot recently joined the New York City Police Force. After his first filmed intervention, several voices were heard on social networks. Some representatives of the political world, the media and associations have expressed their fears and indignation.
Hostage-taking in the Bronx
In June 2020, Boston Dynamics began marketing its Spot robot to businesses. This over-equipped four-legged machine has already performed various functions. At the end of 2019, Spot was tested by the Massachusetts police (United States). A demining team used it in an operation as a mobile remote observation device. His goal ? Provide field images to police officers and facilitate the detection of suspicious objects or potentially dangerous.
A video posted by FreedomNewsTV (FNTV) on February 24, 2021 (see end of article) shows that the Spot robot has just joined the workforce of the New York police (NYPD). Wearing the name of Digidog, it sports a unique blue color. Its features are multiple with its cameras, lights, two-way communication system, extreme agility and artificial intelligence.
The NYPD used its Digidog as part of a hostage-taking in the Bronx, during which one of the victims was able to escape in order to raise the alarm. According to a statement, the robot’s mission was to transmit live video from the apartment where the scene took place. The images enabled the police to understand that the premises were ultimately empty and therefore prevented them from exposing themselves and putting themselves in danger.
Fears and indignation
If this first mission is visibly a success, the filmed operation has abundantly reacted, mainly on social networks. Politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez showed his indignation as to the fact that the machine was tested in a disadvantaged neighborhood. She recalled that in these areas, funding for education, health and housing should be a priority. However, the purchase of Spot cost the police $ 74,500.
Jay Stanley of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also voiced his opinion. The latter denounced the use of a robot to do the work of the police. According to him, this could have consequences at different levels : racial prejudice, mobile surveillance, privacy and hacking. Jay Stanley also confessed to fears that one day the Digidog would be the subject of an association with another technology to turn it into some kind of weapon. Daniel Valls of FreedomNewsTV – having filmed the scene – said Spot was giving goosebumps.
In any case, it seems inevitable that this type of robot is more and more used in the future. However, it will be necessary to ensure that no drift is deplored otherwise more people will be outraged by the presence of these machines in the public space.
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