The New York Police Department has a new transit officer on the force: the “K5” security robot. The city is deploying the robot — in a pilot program — to patrol the Times Square subway station overnight.
While the slow-moving robot can’t physically fight crime, it has four HD cameras. Mayor Eric Adams said the recorded video could be used in case of emergency or an unlawful act.
“Devices like the K5 have the possibility to serve as a deterrent to crime or at least learn best practices while using technology going forward,” Adams said.
Adams also said the K5 will not record audio or employ facial recognition. According to Knightscope, the company that made the robot, it can patrol for 2.5 to 3 hours, then needs to charge for 20-30 minutes. It will be partnered up with a police officer for its two-month trial.
The move is part of the city’s effort to manage crime underground. According to NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper, subway crime is down 4.5% from last year.
The use of the robot is the latest example of the NYPD introducing technology into its policing, which has some residents concerned about their privacy.
In an interview with New York 1, New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman called the K5 “dangerous.”
“It risks us getting into the use of surveillance and data collection and intervention in ways that New Yorkers had no idea they were signing up for,” Lieberman said.
Weeks ago, the department stirred controversy when it announced plans to deploy drones in Brooklyn to monitor backyard barbecues over Labor Day weekend.
“For example if we have any 3-1-1 calls — our non-emergency line — where if a caller states there’s a large crowd, a large party in the backyards we’re going to be utilizing our assets to go up to go check on the party to make sure if the call is founded or not and will that will be able to determine how many resources we need to send to that location,” Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said.
Earlier this year, The New York Times reported that robotic dogs came back on the scene. Initially introduced in 2020, the “Digidog” has cameras and lights and it is meant to help in situations that pose a threat to humans.
It was used. But there was backlash.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called them “robotic surveillance ground drones” in 2021.
New York City Council Member Ben Kallos introduced a bill that would ban police from going further and ever using “weaponized” robots — keep in mind the Digidogs were not armed.
Following criticism, the NYPD promptly canceled its contract with the Digidog maker, Boston Dynamics. However, under Mayor Adams, the Digidogs have returned, along with the approximately 400-pound K5.
