More than 300 employees at Boston Dynamics have petitioned the company's leadership to halt the sale of four modified Spot robot dogs to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The petition, submitted in early September, expresses deep concern that the deal, valued at $1.3 million, will associate the robotics firm with ICE at a time when the agency is viewed by many as fostering fear across the country. The employees warn that the contract poses significant risks to the company's reputation, potentially affecting talent acquisition and retention efforts.
The petition highlights that public-facing teams have already received inquiries about the arrangement, and signatories have been contacted by friends and family expressing disbelief and dismay. The employees stated that the potential risks associated with the deal are "simply too great to continue". The signatories typically take pride in showcasing their work and challenging perceptions of robotic capabilities, but this contract conflicts with that ethos.
ICE finalized the contract in September, with the robots intended for use by its Homeland Security Investigations unit. The agency states the machines will be used for transnational criminal matters, not by Enforcement and Removal Operations. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that the robots provide law enforcement with an additional tool to safely assess dangerous situations before personnel or the public are put at risk. ICE has described the technology as a means to inspect tunnels, evaluate hazards, and gather information in confined or uncertain environments without immediate human entry. The modified units, nicknamed Cerberus, are equipped with a robotic arm, thermal camera, and sensors for detecting explosive materials.
Boston Dynamics interim CEO Amanda McMaster responded to the petition in a letter, stating the company would uphold the decision. She asserted that customers must adhere to terms and conditions prohibiting the weaponization of the robots or their use for harmful or intimidating purposes. McMaster maintained that the sale aligns with the company's mission of ethically advancing intelligent machines for humanity's benefit and asked employees to accept the decision, even if they disagreed. Boston Dynamics has a long-standing public policy against weaponization. A company spokesperson previously stated that any suggestion the robots would support immigrant detentions or deportations is false, and that language referring to detention in procurement documents is standard boilerplate.
The internal opposition follows external criticism. Advocacy groups and demonstrators have protested outside Boston Dynamics' headquarters and ICE facilities. Some activists have called for state tax credits awarded to the company for a planned manufacturing expansion to be reconsidered. The contract was awarded to Connecticut-based Radeco to supply ICE with the modified Spot robots.