The New York Police Department's (NYPD) 2021 deployment of a Boston Dynamics "Spot" robot during a Bronx home invasion ignited a fierce public backlash over the militarisation of police, the lack of transparency in adopting surveillance tech, and the disproportionate testing of invasive tools in low-income communities of colour. 

The NYPD used the 70-pound, four-legged Boston Dynamics-manufactured Spot dog nicknamed "Digidog" to assist in a home invasion and hostage response in the Bronx in which two men were holding two others hostage. The suspects were later arrested.

Manufactured by Boston Dynamics, the robot was equipped with AI for navigation, 360-degree cameras, and two-way communication to allow officers to survey hazardous environments remotely.

While the NYPD framed the technology as a life-saving tool for high-risk scenarios, its presence caused immediate alarm, with videos showing the mechanical unit "prowling" through the Bronx neighborhood and local residents reporting feeling like "guinea pigs" and "scapegoats" and describing the robot as "creepy" and "alienating."

Critics expressed concerns about the technical capabilities of the robot, the scope for misuse and abuse, and its use in lower-income communities, and argued the USD 94,000 lease was a poor use of city funds compared to under-resourced schools and social services. 

The fracas also raised questions about transparency, with the ACLU asking why the NYPD had failed to list it on its public disclosure of surveillance devices.

Timeline ⏰

• April 2021. The NYPD canceled its contract with Boston Dynamics due to public pressure and City Council subpoenas

Research, advocacy 🧮

• ACLU (2021). Robot Police Dogs are Here. Should We be Worried?

Fact check 🚩

• Snopes (2021). Does the NYPD Use Robot Dogs in Its Police Work?

News, commentary, analysis 🗞️

• https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/27/nyregion/nypd-robot-dog.html

• https://nypost.com/2021/02/23/video-shows-nypds-new-robotic-dog-in-action-in-the-bronx/

• https://www.wired.com/story/new-york-lawmaker-wants-ban-police-armed-robots/

• https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/us-news/nypds-robot-digidog-patrols-new-york-city-reminds-residents-of-dystopian-thrillers.html

• https://www.newsweek.com/nypd-robot-dog-1573619

• https://www.curbed.com/2021/03/nypd-robot-dog-boston-dynamics-spot.html

• https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/02/nypd-police-robodog-patrols

• https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/24/22299140/nypd-boston-dynamics-spot-robot-dog

• https://gothamist.com/news/nypd-deploys-alarming-robot-dog-manhattan-public-housing-complex

• https://www.axios.com/2022/10/06/boston-dynamics-pledges-weaponize-robots

• https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/11/nyregion/nypd-digidog-robot-crime.html