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

[–] nosuchanon@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago
[–] dan1101@lemmy.world 142 points 1 week ago (2 children)

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

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 77 points 1 week ago (5 children)

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

[–] dreadbeef@lemmy.dbzer0.com 44 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)
[–] urushitan@kakera.kintsugi.moe 25 points 1 week ago

The dog will do it for you

[–] mereo@piefed.ca 8 points 1 week ago

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

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[–] IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works 36 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 29 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] Pacers31Colts18@piefed.social 32 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] mmcintyre@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago
[–] tidderuuf@lemmy.world 78 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week 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 11 points 1 week 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 1 week 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 1 week 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 1 week ago

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

[–] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 week ago

Benn Jordan did a good video about this:

Robot Dogs Are A Security Nightmare

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[–] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 74 points 1 week ago (2 children)

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

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[–] frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io 44 points 1 week 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 1 week 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 1 week 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 33 points 1 week ago (3 children)

We need to normalize absolutely wrecking these robots in public.

[–] mig@lemmy.world 1 points 6 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 6 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.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 26 points 1 week ago

Beat them to death with a flock pole

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

I remember that Black Mirror episode.

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[–] boobookittyfrick@lemmy.zip 20 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] katiecakes@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 1 week 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 1 week ago (1 children)

A million dollars worth? So four?

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[–] SnarkoPolo@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago

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

[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 1 week 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 1 week ago (4 children)

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

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[–] square@lemmy.zip 11 points 1 week 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 10 points 1 week ago

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

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

Fahrenheit 451 entered the chat.

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 5 points 1 week ago

That scene just got significantly more haunting

[–] betanumerus@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 week ago

"Millions"? That's about 20 dogs.

[–] Simulation6@sopuli.xyz 7 points 1 week 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 6 days ago

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

Time to practice my bolas throw I guess.

[–] Bluedragon012@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

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

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