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 4 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours 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?

[–] DeadSquirrel@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 8 hours ago

Will they even get that far? All of this sounds like dollars going to another bro down the pyramid. No one's ever going to see those robots.

At least that's how it usually goes in corrupt governments.

[–] NutWrench@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 day 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 4 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours 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.

[–] Simulation6@sopuli.xyz 7 points 1 day 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 5 hours ago

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

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

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

[–] square@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 day 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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[–] Bluedragon012@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

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

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

[–] dan1101@lemmy.world 139 points 2 days ago (2 children)

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

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 76 points 2 days ago (3 children)

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

[–] dreadbeef@lemmy.dbzer0.com 44 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)
[–] urushitan@kakera.kintsugi.moe 25 points 2 days ago

The dog will do it for you

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 3 points 1 day 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 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

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

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[–] IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works 36 points 2 days 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 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] Pacers31Colts18@piefed.social 33 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] mmcintyre@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago
[–] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 74 points 2 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 4 points 1 day 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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[–] Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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

[–] UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day 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.

[–] boobookittyfrick@lemmy.zip 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] katiecakes@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 day 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.

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 day ago

It's such a great episode. Because while the thing is terrifying, it's also vaguely dog-like and clumsy in some of its movements, so you can't help but anthropomorphise a bit.

But then something that looks kind of cute can still kill you dead.

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[–] tidderuuf@lemmy.world 78 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (7 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 1 day ago

Benn Jordan did a good video about this:

Robot Dogs Are A Security Nightmare

[–] magnue@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

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

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[–] xenomor@lemmy.world 34 points 2 days ago (3 children)

We need to normalize absolutely wrecking these robots in public.

[–] mig@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours 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 1 points 6 hours 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 2 days ago

Beat them to death with a flock pole

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[–] frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io 43 points 2 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?

[–] cloudshouter@lemmy.zip 16 points 2 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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[–] Bustedknuckles@lemmy.world 26 points 2 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

[–] Zephorah@discuss.online 29 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I remember that Black Mirror episode.

[–] eareetator@lemmy.world 20 points 2 days ago (1 children)

A million dollars worth? So four?

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