this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2026
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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.

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[–] nosuchanon@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago
[–] dan1101@lemmy.world 144 points 5 days ago (2 children)

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

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 78 points 5 days ago (3 children)

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

[–] dreadbeef@lemmy.dbzer0.com 45 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)
[–] urushitan@kakera.kintsugi.moe 26 points 4 days ago

The dog will do it for you

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] FE80@lemmy.world 11 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Under a Democratic congress the robot dogs will have gay pride flags painted on them.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago

They will play a pre-recorded message of encouragement ("It Gets Better") before opening fire.

[–] mereo@piefed.ca 8 points 4 days ago

Eh... $$$$$ > ethics unfortunately.

[–] IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works 37 points 5 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 30 points 5 days ago (1 children)

According to Wikipedia, it's Hyundai at the moment.

[–] Pacers31Colts18@piefed.social 34 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Which ICE raided in Alabama last year. Hopefully they remember.

[–] mmcintyre@lemmy.world 17 points 4 days ago
[–] echodot@feddit.uk 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days 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?

[–] NutWrench@lemmy.ml 15 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days 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.

[–] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 76 points 4 days ago (2 children)

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

[–] TraipsersWill@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

“Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”- Mark Twain

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[–] tidderuuf@lemmy.world 80 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 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.

[–] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 4 days ago

Benn Jordan did a good video about this:

Robot Dogs Are A Security Nightmare

[–] Screen_Shatter@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Fishnoodle@lemmy.world 15 points 4 days ago (2 children)

They also fall for the classic 'put a blanket and/or some leaves over a hole in the ground' pitfall trap.

They also trigger tripwires pretty regularly and don't have much, if any defense against snares. Dumb shit like oil\lube on the ground will work too

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[–] SnarkoPolo@lemmy.world 16 points 4 days ago

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

[–] square@lemmy.zip 12 points 4 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.

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[–] boobookittyfrick@lemmy.zip 23 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] katiecakes@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 4 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.

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[–] frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io 44 points 5 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?

[–] Bustedknuckles@lemmy.world 27 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I recall that a common January 6 defense was "the window was already broken"

Everyone who said that deserves to get robbed after an anonymous person breaks all their windows

[–] cloudshouter@lemmy.zip 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Schrödingers cop. Warrantless search? Not a cop, doesn’t count. Scratch its paint? Assaulting a police officer.

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[–] xenomor@lemmy.world 35 points 4 days ago (3 children)

We need to normalize absolutely wrecking these robots in public.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 27 points 4 days ago

Beat them to death with a flock pole

[–] mig@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I was just wondering how hard it would be to rip a fucking leg off. I'm an industrial mechanic. Bolt cutters? Tin snips.

[–] xenomor@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

I’m hoping for instructional videos, as well as tips on tools that work well for this. There is technique to be learned.

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[–] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 11 points 4 days ago

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

[–] Simulation6@sopuli.xyz 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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?

[–] Johnmannesca@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

If the next decade sees the shuttering of their offices and asset liquidation then maybe a neat public auction will have them?

[–] Zephorah@discuss.online 29 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I remember that Black Mirror episode.

[–] eareetator@lemmy.world 20 points 5 days ago (1 children)

A million dollars worth? So four?

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[–] Bluedragon012@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

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

[–] Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 days ago

The 1% will pull the trigger on the class genocide once the military and its supply chain is fully automated. I guess we gotta hope they are arrogant and try before they truly are prepared.

[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 5 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

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[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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

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[–] betanumerus@lemmy.ca 8 points 4 days ago

"Millions"? That's about 20 dogs.

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