New Yorkers are outraged after the NYPD and the mayor announce a new fleet of “Big Brother” robots that will patrol the city’s streets and subways.
The announcement was made Tuesday in Times Square, where three bots made their debut — one of which was suspended by the previous administration after it deemed it “racist.”
A reintroduced robotic police dog will help officers navigate dangerous situations, and the city is trialling two for $750,000.
And the K5 Autonomous Security Robot and StarChase GPS will monitor people and vehicles—these costs aren’t clear.
Mayor Eric Adams has run his campaign on a promise to eradicate crime in New York City, and he believes robot recruits will be used to save lives and deter atrocities in the Big Apple.
However, New Yorkers aren’t on the same page with the mayor when it comes to launching robots into the concrete jungle.
One resident shared his frustrations about the new recruits on Twitter: “We want fully funded libraries and schools, not more expensive toys for the NYPD.”
Other residents said the bots are “miserable surveillance technologies”.
The K5 Autonomous Security Robot (pictured) is leased to the NYPD on a trial basis, which is slated to begin in June or July, and will roam Times Square or subway stations
The announcement was made Tuesday in Times Square, where three bots made their debut — one of which was suspended by the previous administration after it was called “racist.”
The New York City Police Department released its annual report on crimes over the past year — with numbers revealing an uptick in nearly every category, despite recent assurances from the mayor.
The stats paint a grim picture of the city’s efforts to tackle crime, which has soared since the pandemic — even though Adams has repeatedly claimed his campaign to fix the problem has been a success.
Police Commissioner Kishant Sewell opened the event, stating that to protect the modern city, officers must be “equipped with the tools, training and technology to do this work safely and effectively.”
The first to hit the streets will be the K5 autonomous safety robot featuring artificial intelligence to provide real-time incident notifications to first responders.
The egg-shaped machine, made by Knightscope, is outfitted with microphones, a camera, and sonar and lidar sensors.
Like the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner, the robot uses self-driving technology.
It is about 5.5 feet tall, weighs 400 pounds, and has a top speed of three miles per hour.
“The K5 has been used by law enforcement agencies, including the Huntington Park Police, and on college campuses all over this country, businesses, malls, and other places where it’s required,” NYPD chief Jeffrey Madre said at the news conference. Security. Additional deterrents to crime are needed.
The K5 is leased to the NYPD as a trial basis, which is slated to begin in June or July, and will cruise around Times Square or subway stations.
New Yorkers aren’t on the same page with the mayor regarding launching robots into the concrete jungle
Crime rates in New York City increased from 2020 to 2023. Eric Adams believes that robots will help deter criminals in the city
StarChase GPS tracking comes in two forms: hand-held and vehicle-mounted devices.
He fires a projectile at the car, allowing the police to use GPS to track it.
‘On Saturday night, we deployed it with some trained officers,’ said Commander John Chill.
There was a stolen car in Queens. The car followed into the Bronx. One of our Bronx units has this device. They used this device.
The car stopped, we made an arrest, and we pulled a stolen car off the street. And just as important, we kept our officers safe, we mitigated prosecution, and we kept the community safe.
Police said the device, which has been used in malls and other locations for several years, will initially be joined by a human partner.
The last robot was a yellow four-legged machine spinning in the street.
Adams said the remote-controlled, 70-pound Digidog will be deployed in high-risk situations like hostage standoffs starting this summer.
He also said he would not succumb to anti-robot dog pressure.
It was something that was previously introduced under the previous administration. A few rowdies opposed him, and we took a step back.
This is not the way I work. I am looking for the best for the city.
Adams explained that the robots are also capable of two-way communication. For example, if an officer needs to speak with a suspect, they can do so without being harmed.
However, Robot Dog was canceled in 2021 after the miserable four-legged surveillance machine was condemned for targeting “low-income communities of color.”
Mayor Eric Adams (center) campaigned on a promise to eradicate crime in New York City. Police Commissioner Kishant Sewell (left) joined him in unveiling the robots
The last robot was a yellow four-legged machine spinning in the street
Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called it an “automated surveillance drone”.
“Shout out to everyone who fought against community advocates who demanded that these resources go to investments like school counseling instead,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Feb. 25, 2021.
Robotic surveillance drones are now being deployed for testing on low-income communities of color with under-resourced schools.
The $94,000 contract was scheduled to expire in August but was terminated on April 22.
The robot dog has drawn comparisons to an episode of British dystopian show Black Mirror – which the show’s creator said was inspired by similar robots made by Boston Dynamics.
During this week’s event, a reporter asked Adams how he plans to “assuage people’s skepticism about the device and reassure it, being transparent, that it will be used.”
“Well, first this is New York, 8.5 million people, 35 million views. No matter what you do, there will be pros and cons,” replied the mayor.
We do what others have not done. We’re putting it here in Times Square.
We’re letting people in and look at Digidog, K5, and others. And we’ll bring in community leaders and say, “Here’s the technology we have. Would you like that in your community?”
Adams’ promise of safety has failed among New Yorkers who see crime-fighting technology as tools for surveillance.
The robotic dog was tested by the NYPD in 2021. It turned up at a crime scene in February (pictured) when two men were being held hostage in a Bronx apartment. However, its use was soon criticized by everyone from local politicians to late night TV hosts
“Mayor Adams continues to pour money into the bloated NYPD budget, enabling the police to impose wretched new surveillance technologies across the city without meaningfully engaging New Yorkers in a conversation about whether this is the way we want it to be,” said the Legal Aid Society. we live by it. Nonprofit based in New York City.
New Yorkers aren’t just outraged at the potential for espionage — they’re also worried about the cost of the botnet.
“Eric Adams just spent $750,000 on new NYPD robot dogs – while forcing other agencies to cut 4% of budgets (up from 3% a few months ago), adding to food insecurity and eviction woes,” said one Twitter user. and so on. .
Civil liberties advocates and advocates of police reform have also questioned the need for high-tech devices.
“This latest announcement is just the latest example of how Mayor Adams has allowed the undiluted overspending of the vastly inflated NYPD budget,” said Ileana Mendez-Pennett, director of the United Communities Police Reform Program.
The NYPD buys robot dogs and other fancy tech while New Yorkers don’t have access to food stamps because city agencies are understaffed, and New Yorkers are fired because they can’t access their right to counsel.
