Jonathan Paz says cameras, vehicles and AI have all been used against the public and warns against expecting ICE's robots to be different
Jonathan PazFormer Waltham city councilor and pro-immigrant activist, speaking to NBC10 Boston
Former Waltham City Councilor Jonathan Paz, raising concerns about ICE's planned use of the robots, says cameras, vehicles, AI and data collection software have all been abused and used against the public, and that people should not expect anything different.
“Whether it's cameras, it's vehicles, it's AI, and all this software data collection software, all of it has been abused and used against the public, so we should not expect anything different”
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
NBC10 Boston report on reaction to ICE's planned purchase of Spot robots. It quotes an ICE spokesperson, a Boston Dynamics spokesperson, protesters outside ICE's Burlington office, former Waltham City Councilor Jonathan Paz and a law enforcement expert.
Before the quotation
NBC10 Boston reported on September 17 on reaction to ICE's planned purchase of Spot robots. The report says Paz raised concerns about what could happen if a robot malfunctioned, was hacked or was misused by the people controlling it.
After the quotation
The report then quotes law enforcement and security expert Todd McGhee, who said agencies using the technology should set clear limits and safeguards.
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, Paz criticizes putting the robots in ICE's hands, predicting they will be misused as other surveillance technology has been.
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- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
More from this case
Read the full caseAmanda McMaster, then Boston Dynamics' interim chief executive, tells employees the Spot robot sale to ICE is in line with the company's purpose
Boston Dynamics
“We believe this decision is in line with our purpose of ethically advancing intelligent machines in service of humanity”Read statement
Boston Dynamics says that if its robot can help keep people safe, it should be used, regardless of political implications
Boston Dynamics
“Regardless of any political implications or personal feelings about the organizations involved, if our robot can help keep people safe, we believe it should.”Read statement
ICE says the robot gives officers an additional tool to assess dangerous situations before putting people at risk
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
“Like with our other law enforcement partners around the country, this robot platform provides law enforcement officers with an additional tool to safely assess potentially dangerous situations before placing personnel or the public at risk”Read statement
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- Jonathan Paz says cameras, vehicles and AI have all been used against the public and warns against expecting ICE's robots to be different
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The Dispute Index. "Jonathan Paz says cameras, vehicles and AI have all been used against the public and warns against expecting ICE's robots to be different". First published: 2026-10-30. Last updated: 2026-10-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/7325-former-waltham-city-councilor-jonathan-paz-raising-concerns