Amanda McMaster, then Boston Dynamics' interim chief executive, tells employees the Spot robot sale to ICE is in line with the company's purpose
Boston DynamicsAmanda McMaster, interim chief executive of Boston Dynamics at the time, in an email to employees reported by The Boston Globe
Responding to the employees' letter, Amanda McMaster, then the company's interim chief executive, says the company is standing behind the sale and that the decision is in line with its purpose of ethically advancing intelligent machines in service of humanity.
“We believe this decision is in line with our purpose of ethically advancing intelligent machines in service of humanity”
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Boston Dynamics employees urge the company to cancel its ICE robot-dog sale; the company stands by the deal
In September 2026, Boston Dynamics employees sent company leadership a letter urging it to cancel the sale of four Spot robots to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under a $1.3 million contract. The letter, reported by WBUR and The Boston Globe on October 23, says the deal ties the company to an agency it accuses of brutalizing civilians. Interim chief executive Amanda McMaster told employees the company is standing by the sale. Boston Dynamics says the robots go to ICE's Homeland Security Investigations unit and that its terms bar weaponization or use for harm or intimidation.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Boston Globe report on the employees' letter opposing the sale of four Spot robots to ICE through the Connecticut company Radeco. It quotes the letter, a company statement, a DHS spokesperson, Amanda McMaster's email to staff, and protesters from the De-Ice Action Network.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
WBUR report on a petition, sent to Boston Dynamics leadership in early September and obtained by WBUR, in which employees urge the company to cancel its sale of Spot robots to ICE. It quotes the petition, a company spokesperson and interim chief executive Amanda McMaster's letter to employees.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The Boston Globe reported on October 23 that McMaster, whom it describes as the company's former interim chief executive, answered the workers' petition in an email, saying she is standing behind the decision to move forward with this and other potential sales to government customers. She cited the company's anti-weaponization guidelines.
After the quotation
She asked workers to accept the decision even if they do not agree with it. WBUR reported that her letter says customers must comply with terms that prohibit any attempts to weaponize the robot or use it for harm or intimidation.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to Boston Dynamics' sale of Spot robots to ICE, McMaster defends the decision to go ahead with the sale despite the employees' objections.
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- Amanda McMaster, then Boston Dynamics' interim chief executive, tells employees the Spot robot sale to ICE is in line with the company's purpose
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The Dispute Index. "Amanda McMaster, then Boston Dynamics' interim chief executive, tells employees the Spot robot sale to ICE is in line with the company's purpose". First published: 2026-10-30. Last updated: 2026-10-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/7323-responding-to-the-employees-letter-amanda-mcmaster-then