New York City officials have unveiled three new high-tech policing devices in a press conference in Times Square. These devices include a GPS tracker for stolen cars, a cone-shaped security robot, and a robotic dog.
The unveiling marks the return of the mechanical canine, nicknamed Digidog, which had previously been criticized as creepy and dystopian.
Digidog Is Back
Digidog was first leased in 2020 by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, but its contract was cut short due to public backlash. However, Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, is pushing back against anti-robot dog pressure and has included it in the toolkit that the city is using. Starting this summer, the 70-pound remote-controlled robot will be deployed by Adams in risky situations such as hostage standoffs.
Adams believes that sending Digidog in situations such as barricaded suspects or armed individuals in buildings is a smarter use of technology. He said, “So these are smart ways of using good technologies.” The robotic dog is a tool for law enforcement, and the NYPD is committed to using it transparently and consistently.
StarChase
The second high-tech policing device unveiled by the NYPD is StarChase. This tracking system allows police officers to launch a GPS tag that will attach itself to a stolen car. This will help officers track the location of the vehicle, increasing the chances of recovering it. Officials stated that the pilot program for using the system will last for 90 days.
Autonomous Security Robot
The third device unveiled is the Autonomous Security Robot. Adams compared the device to a Roomba and announced that it would be deployed in a seven-month pilot program starting this summer inside the Times Square subway station. Initially, the device will be joined by a human partner.
Criticsm
Civil libertarians and police reform advocates have criticized the need for high-tech devices such as Digidog and the Autonomous Security Robot. They have accused the NYPD of overspending its budget while New Yorkers are struggling to access food stamps and getting evicted.
Civil libertarians and police reform advocates have criticized the need for the high-tech devices, questioning the NYPD’s overspending of their budget. Ileana Mendez-Penate, the program director of Communities United for Police Reform, pointed out that the NYPD’s purchase of robotic dogs and other expensive technology contrasts with New Yorkers who can’t access food stamps due to understaffed city agencies, and are getting evicted because they can’t access their right to counsel.
Meanwhile, Albert Fox Cahn, the executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, said that the NYPD is turning bad science fiction into terrible policing, and called for New Yorkers to have real safety rather than a knockoff RoboCop.
Response
Despite criticism, Adams stated that the NYPD’s priority is to keep New Yorkers safe, and these devices would help achieve that goal. The NYPD also stated that it would use these devices transparently and consistently, with close collaboration with the people they serve.
The NYPD has been working to modernize its equipment and technology for the past few years. It believes that these devices will help them respond better to crises and improve their ability to protect the public.
The deployment of high-tech devices like Digidog, StarChase, and the Autonomous Security Robot has sparked controversy in New York City. While some believe these devices will help the police force keep New Yorkers safe, others are skeptical of their need and cost. As the NYPD rolls out these devices, only time will tell if they prove effective and worth the investment.
