Boston Dynamics says its contract with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) complies with the company’s rules for using Spot robots, while employees have warned that the relationship could harm recruitment and retention. The company says it has worked with the Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Investigations for years, has not identified any customer violations of its terms of service, and would take action if Spot were misused.
Mr. McMaster also said that the company’s terms of service prohibit the “intentional use of the product to injure or intimidate people or animals, or to use it as a weapon or to effect any kind of weapon.” The company previously signed an open letter opposing the weaponization of “high-performance general-purpose robots.”
A Boston Dynamics spokesperson told Ars that the company has “worked productively” with the Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Investigations for many years, and that Homeland Security Investigations complies with the company’s terms of sale.
The robotics company said it would “take immediate action” if customers misused Spot. It also said it works with the Department of Homeland Security and other “public safety agencies” and has “no instances where customers have violated these Terms of Service.”
“This includes specific actions such as voiding warranties, refusing all future software updates, terminating the license, taking appropriate legal action available to us, and possibly never selling to that customer again,” a Boston Dynamics spokesperson said.
Concerns about the future workforce
The employee backlash over Boston Dynamics’ ICE contract comes as the company develops a new advanced robotics and AI facility in Waltham, Massachusetts, near its headquarters. According to a company press release, the $100 million project is expected to create 1,250 new jobs by 2033.
A Boston Dynamics spokesperson described the ICE contract as a “complex and emotive topic for many people, including some of our employees.” The company added, “As our company continues to grow rapidly, we continue to welcome a highly diverse group of employees with perspectives from all sides of the social and political spectrum.”
However, as Boston Dynamics increases production capacity and deploys more robots such as Spot and Atlas, employees who signed the petition said the company’s relationship with ICE could affect recruitment and employee retention.
“We fear the loss of teammates as a result of this decision and are concerned about the risks this decision creates in achieving our company’s common goals,” the petition reads. “This decision makes Boston Dynamics a less attractive employer. As we grow, it will become more difficult to build the team we need.”
Source: arstechnica.com