McMaster also pointed out the company’s terms and conditions for the sale of Spot robots that prohibit “the intentional use of the Product to harm or intimidate any person or animal, as a weapon or to enable any weapon.” The company previously signed an open letter opposing the use of “general purpose and advanced mobility robots” as weapons.
The Boston Dynamics spokesperson told Ars that the company has “worked productively” with the Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Investigations unit for years, and said the latter has complied with the company’s terms and conditions of sale.
The robotics company said it would also “take immediate action” if any customer misused Spot, although it said “there have been no instances of a customer violating those terms and conditions” while working with the Department of Homeland Security and other “public safety agencies.”
“That would include specific steps such as voiding the warranty, refusing all future software updates, terminating your license, taking any appropriate legal action at our disposal, and likely never selling to that customer again,” the Boston Dynamics spokesperson said.
Concerns about the future workforce
Boston Dynamics employees’ reaction to the ICE contract comes as the company is developing a new advanced robotics and artificial intelligence facility in Waltham, Massachusetts, near its headquarters. The $100 million project includes the creation of 1,250 new jobs by 2033, according to a company news release.
The ICE contract represents “a complicated and emotionally charged issue for many people, including some of our own employees,” the Boston Dynamics spokesperson said. “As our company continues to grow at a rapid pace, we will continue to welcome a very diverse group of employees with views on all sides of the social and political spectrum.”
But as Boston Dynamics ramps up its production capabilities and deployment of robots like Spot and Atlas, employees who signed the petition expressed concern that the company’s association with the ICE contract threatens both workforce recruitment and retention.
“We fear losing teammates because of this decision and are concerned about the risk it creates to achieving our company’s shared goals,” according to the petition. “This decision makes Boston Dynamics a less attractive employer; it will make it more difficult to build the team we need as we scale.”
