A few days ago, a team of police officers emerged from a public building in Manhattan after arresting an armed man who had been hiding in a woman's apartment. What caused a stir was a robot dog that emerged from the building with the police, raising many questions about policing in New York.
The robot dog is equipped with lights and camerasto show police operations in real time, and is based on artificial intelligence (AI). It weighs 30 kilograms, can run at a speed of 5 km/h, and can climb stairs.
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According to the police, the dog-robot only passed through the building's lobby without playing an active role in the operation. However, even its presence in a public building caused a strong reaction, with many condemning it as a blatant example of police authority and misplaced priorities, emphasizing that such a thing could be disastrous for the USA.
Jamaal Bowman, a member of the House of Representatives, said in a video posted on Twitter: "You can't give me a living wage, raise the minimum wage, and provide affordable housing. I work hard and I can't get paid leave or parental leave. And yet we're giving taxpayer money to robot dogs?"
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Furthermore, the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, said in a press conference on April 14 that he had not seen the dog-robot working, but expressed concern that if for any reason it bothers people, the issue should be reconsidered. He also added that he will discuss the matter with the police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea.
The introduction of the dog-robot comes as police services in the US face intense scrutiny regarding their policies and practices, especially regarding the murder trial of the former Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd. Floyd's death sparked a storm of backlash against police in the US, with many calling for reduced funding for police and more money for social programs.
In New York, the City Council last summer approved a bill that for the first time requires the police department to disclose information about the surveillance tools it uses, which are among the most sophisticated in America and include license plate readers, cellphone trackers and drones.
On April 14, Maya Wiley, a Democratic candidate and former MSNBC analyst, voiced her opposition to the use of the robot dog by the New York City police, arguing that it is a waste of money and a threat to New Yorkers. The device costs at least $74,000, according to a spokesperson for Boston Dynamics, the company that makes it.
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Scott M. Stringer, the Democratic mayoral candidate, said the police should not focus on “finding new and more sophisticated ways to harass the poor and people of color.” “As mayor, I believe we should invest in people, not police dogs,” he said.
The use of robot dogs by police departments, similar to those featured in the Black Mirror episode "Metalhead ," has been heavily criticized since Boston Dynamics unveiled the product in September 2019.
The American Civil Liberties Union has expressed its concern that without proper management, devices that are remotely controlled and based on artificial intelligence could ultimately become autonomous and make their own decisions, potentially reinforcing police bias. The Union has also expressed concerns about privacy and the range of devices that are ultimately used as «weapons».
Michael Perry, senior employee of Boston Dynamics, said that of the roughly 500 robot dogs operating worldwide, most are used in utility companies, construction sites, or other commercial environments that are characterized by hazardous conditions.
Perry added that only four of the devices have been used by police agencies. In addition to New York, the others are the Massachusetts State Police, the Honolulu Police Department and a law enforcement agency in the Netherlands. He also said that the terms and conditions governing the use of the device prevent it from being developed as a “weapon.” “We don’t want our robots to be used in a way that harms people,” he said.
In response to questions regarding the dog‑robot, the police department reported that New York officers have been using robots for 50 years in hostage and hazardous material situations, where people could be in danger.
