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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[–] dan1101@lemmy.world 144 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

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

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

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

[–] dreadbeef@lemmy.dbzer0.com 45 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)
[–] urushitan@kakera.kintsugi.moe 26 points 3 weeks ago

The dog will do it for you

[–] mereo@piefed.ca 8 points 3 weeks ago

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

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[–] IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works 37 points 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] Pacers31Colts18@piefed.social 34 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] mmcintyre@lemmy.world 17 points 3 weeks ago
[–] tidderuuf@lemmy.world 80 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks 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.

[–] Screen_Shatter@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago (1 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

[–] Screen_Shatter@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Hell, I never thought of it before but just throwing a blanket over it would probably do a lot. Would be a fairly simple way to disable it long enough to get to the battery or off button.

[–] Almacca@aussie.zone 7 points 3 weeks ago

Memories of the fourth Doctor foiling a Dalek by putting his hat on its eye-stalk.

[–] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 3 weeks ago

Benn Jordan did a good video about this:

Robot Dogs Are A Security Nightmare

[–] magnue@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Hopefully if this happens someone will make a helpful infographic on how to disable them

[–] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 76 points 3 weeks 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 weeks 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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[–] frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io 44 points 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io 21 points 3 weeks ago

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

[–] cloudshouter@lemmy.zip 16 points 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago (4 children)

We need to normalize absolutely wrecking these robots in public.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 27 points 3 weeks ago

Beat them to death with a flock pole

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[–] Zephorah@discuss.online 29 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I remember that Black Mirror episode.

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[–] boobookittyfrick@lemmy.zip 23 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] katiecakes@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 weeks 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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[–] eareetator@lemmy.world 20 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

A million dollars worth? So four?

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[–] SnarkoPolo@lemmy.world 16 points 3 weeks ago

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

[–] NutWrench@lemmy.ml 15 points 3 weeks 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 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks 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.

[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 3 weeks ago (1 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

[–] areakode@riskeratspizza.com 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Oh no! Do you think he'll be okay?!

[–] DrunkenPirate@feddit.org 5 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Relax the battery lasts for approx 3 hrs. Did you ever wonder why these dogs aren’t used by military who asked for it? Poor battery duratipn is the answer.

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 weeks ago

approx 3 hrs.

I'm done for if they ever come after me. My battery lasts about 2 minutes on a good day.

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[–] square@lemmy.zip 12 points 3 weeks 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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[–] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 11 points 3 weeks ago

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

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 weeks 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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[–] chahn.chris@piefed.social 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Fahrenheit 451 entered the chat.

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 5 points 3 weeks ago

That scene just got significantly more haunting

[–] betanumerus@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 weeks ago

"Millions"? That's about 20 dogs.

[–] Simulation6@sopuli.xyz 7 points 3 weeks 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?

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Time to practice my bolas throw I guess.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks 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?

[–] Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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

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

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

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