[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] The New York Police Department (NYPD) in the United States is facing growing controversy over the robot police dog currently undergoing performance testing.
The NYPD has introduced a robot police dog manufactured by the American robotics company Boston Dynamics. Known to operate not only via remote control but also with artificial intelligence (AI) enabling it to independently respond to on-site situations, this robot police dog was actually deployed during a hostage incident in Manhattan on the 12th.
However, voices of opposition are also increasing. There is a historical background that, even before the Civil War, fierce dogs were considered a means to suppress Black people, and the perception remains that police dogs are primarily used against people of color to this day.
A resident of a low-income neighborhood in Manhattan where the robot police dog was deployed said, "It feels like we are being used as test subjects for the robot police dog's performance. It feels like being treated as second-class citizens." Furthermore, according to a New York Times (NYT) report on the 16th local time, Democratic candidates running for New York City mayor also expressed critical views on the full-scale introduction of robot police dogs.
Maya Wiley, a female candidate and former human rights activist lawyer, stated that if she becomes mayor, she will halt the use of robot police dogs, saying, "Robot police dogs will pose another danger to Black and Hispanic residents." Scott Stringer, a candidate for New York City Comptroller, also argued, "The police must stop developing technology to oppress low-income and people of color."
Meanwhile, as criticism spreads, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has also expressed his intention to discuss this issue with the NYPD.
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