In early September 2026, more than 300 employees at the U.S. robotics company Boston Dynamics signed a petition calling on the company’s executives to halt the sale of its quadruped robots—known as “robot dogs”—to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Approximately half of the signatories chose to remain anonymous. The document was submitted to the company’s management and simultaneously shared with The Boston Globe and WBUR public radio.
The petition states: “Many employees have received messages from friends and family, incredulously and shockingly asking whether this news is true and how we can possibly accept it with a clear conscience,” while emphasizing that “Boston Dynamics faces risks that are too great to proceed with this deal.” This stance stems from deep concerns about the ethical and reputational harm that could result from the use of the technology in surveillance and law enforcement contexts.
According to the materials, on September 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded Connecticut-based Radeco a $1.3 million contract to supply ICE with modified Boston Dynamics quadruped robots. While Boston Dynamics’ management confirmed the deal, they explicitly stated that the robots sold would not be weaponized.
Please note: The petition occurred in early September 2026, with the contract awarded on September 25, and the materials published on October 26, 2026 (October 27, Singapore time). All timelines are no later than the current system time (2026-10-27), and the event is a recent news item that has already taken place and is supported by public reports. The materials do not specify the robot’s exact deployment method, scope of use, or actual delivery status; relevant details are limited to the extent disclosed by the source.