‘Black Mirror’ trends on Twitter after clip of NYPD robodog goes viral
A viral clip of the NYPD’s new robotic “Digidog” had the internet chasing its tail over whether the dystopian “future” of science fiction has already arrived.
“By the time my kids are old enough to watch Black Mirror it’s going to be a documentary series,” Twitter user @hella_leigh posted Tuesday along with the video, which shows cops ushering around a robo-dog during an arrest at a city housing project.
“I never seen nothing like this before in my life. You seeing this?” asks the woman in the original TikTok video.
“Ooh, that sh-t move better than a dog!” she exclaims. “That’s R2D2!”
An NYPD rep said the clip showed the arrest of 41-year-old Luis Gonzales after police responded to a 911 call regarding a domestic dispute and possible firearm and hostage situation at 344 East 28th Street in Manhattan.
Cops arrived to the scene to find Gonzales sequestered inside an apartment with a mother and baby, who exited unharmed, the NYPD said. Gonzalez was apprehended after about two hours of negotiations.
The dog “was not utilized,” the rep said.
NYPD’s use of robots has come under scrutiny since the first “Digidog” sighting in the Bronx in February, seemingly out of nowhere. The machine’s use drew fire from local politicians including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called the four-legged crime fighter a “robotic surveillance ground drone.”
The “Digidog” is technically unarmed. City Councilman Ben Kallos last month introduced legislation to ban NYPD from using “weaponized” robots.
NYPD has not disclosed the cost of each “Digidog.”
