• Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot (valued at $100,000+) is now deployed in 60+ U.S. and Canadian bomb squads and SWAT teams. Used in hostage situations, bomb threats and hazardous environments, replacing human officers in high-risk scenarios.
• Critics warn of creeping authoritarianism, comparing robotic policing to dystopian surveillance states. NYPD’s Digidog program was suspended in 2021due to public backlash but reintroduced by Mayor Eric Adams, sparking renewed debate. Civil rights groups argue these robots normalize militarized policing while lacking accountability.
• While Boston Dynamics bans weaponizing Spot, other companies (e.g., Ghost Robotics) have developed armed robot dogs. ICE has already purchased a $78,000 robot capable of deploying smoke bombs, raising fears of escalation in crowd control.

Read more: Police departments deploy weaponized ROBOT DOGS amid civil liberties concerns