ICE to use robot dogs from Boston Dynamics in deportation operations

18 pointsposted 10 hours ago
by r_singh
(wcvb.com)

15 Comments

hungryhobbit

10 hours ago

These things are not safe, and they are deliberately using them on people who can't sue and defend themselves.

This will not end well if you have any respect for basic human rights (even for non-US citizens).

gnuplustoejam

10 hours ago

Is it specifically the camera or the single robotic arm meant for manipulating hazardous objects — which resembles a grocery store claw game — that you likely believe is biting into illegal immigrants' legs like a robotic German shepherd?

You have not done the bare minimum of research before blasting out your hilariously melodramatic comment.

JumpCrisscross

9 hours ago

I think it’s more that an agency that defends murderers in their ranks isn’t going to have a problem deploying something that injures innocent Americans as it tries to do whatever it’s meant to.

On the upside, I look forward to everyone at Boston Dynamics being subpoenaed for the next few years. Maybe we’ll get some new entrants from the departures.

gnuplustoejam

9 hours ago

> deploying something that injures innocent Americans

Except that's not what's happening here. In fact, quite the opposite, it's more like robotic PPE.

JumpCrisscross

7 hours ago

> that's not what's happening here

Nobody claimed anyone has been injured by these devices yet. (They haven’t been deployed in public.)

The reasonable concern is that when they are deployed, they are likely to injure someone because the people deploying them have been eagerly hurting—and defending those who hurt—innocent Americans.

Dig1t

7 hours ago

These robots are 2 feet tall and don’t come equipped with weapons.

Genuinely curious how you are saying they are dangerous? Are they more or less dangerous than a human with a gun?

JumpCrisscross

6 hours ago

> These robots are 2 feet tall and don’t come equipped with weapons

They were barely deployed to regular police when fastening flash-bang grenades to them came up [1].

> Are they more or less dangerous than a human with a gun?

I genuinely don’t see these being used as an “or.” It’s undertrained idiots with guns plus these, or just the former.

[1] https://www.semafor.com/article/05/19/2026/worker-backlash-o...

snypher

7 hours ago

They could just drive it into someone.

>hazardous gas detection, search and rescue, as well as suspicious package investigations

What the fuck does that have to do with immigration and customs enforcement?

e40

6 hours ago

It also feels like an alpha test, without risk were it to be conducted on citizens.

platinumrad

5 hours ago

ICE manages to harass and detain plenty of citizens.

ncr100

8 hours ago

Evocative of the Robocop movie.

Dig1t

7 hours ago

In what way are they not safe?

Unless you strap a gun to one (which they are not doing afaik) how could they actually cause harm to a human?

1attice

7 hours ago

I see several comments on this chat referencing "innocent Americans".

Might I suggest "innocent people?"

Thanks.

- a former US immigrant, who left when things got spicy

gnuplustoejam

10 hours ago

> will be used in operations deemed unsafe for human agents, like hazardous gas detection, search and rescue, as well as suspicious package investigations

Cyberpunk, albeit a nothing-burger.

These are not the metal-toothed cartoon dogs you so badly want them to be.