New York Mayor Eric Adams Introduces Surveillance Robots

Mayor Eric Adams of New York City, who once said that “Big Brother is protecting you” has unveiled a new policing initiative involving a robotic law enforcement officer. Announced in a press conference on Friday, the NYPD plans to trial a dystopian robotic surveillance platform in the Times Square subway station.

Dubbed the Knightscope K5, this semi-autonomous robot is no lightweight. Weighing in at approximately 400 pounds and capable of moving at a top speed of three miles per hour, the K5 has been described by Adams as “not a pushover.” This was clearly demonstrated during the press conference as the Mayor tried unsuccessfully, multiple times, to knock it over.

This debut, however, has spurred a wave of concerns hinging on privacy and a seeming inclination towards surveillance. New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the robots “privacy disasters on wheels.”