ICE Wants Robot Dogs. Because Of Course It Does.
ICE has quietly posted plans to buy Boston Dynamics' four-legged Spot robots, budgeting $1 to $2 million for a small fleet the agency says will boost "officer safety" and help with hazard assessment in risky spots. The bots retail around $75K each and have already sparked backlash when used by police departments (Honolulu notoriously deployed one to harass homeless residents, prompting cities like New York to drop their contracts). This news lands days after reports that ICE bought 6,000 pairs of electric shock gloves, painting a pretty clear picture of where its tech budget priorities lie.
Why it matters
Robot dogs from Boston Dynamics keep getting adopted by law enforcement despite widespread public discomfort, and cities have already canceled contracts over surveillance fears. ICE embracing the tech, alongside shock gloves, signals an agency doubling down on intimidation hardware even as its human officers face scrutiny for deadly incidents.