cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19944734

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A sight previously thought to be science fiction is very real at a southeast Kansas City shopping center. Instead of a police officer, a security robot has been patrolling sidewalks and shoppers are taking notice.

Since Marshall the robot has been on the job, shoppers say the experiences have completely changed when they come to these stores. The robot can spend 23 hours a day monitoring the parking lot from all angles which gives people a new sense of protection and ease they don’t always have when out.

Marshall took over security at Brywood Centre in April. Before that, Karen White noticed a lot of trouble outside the shopping center.

“Sometimes it’d be concerning for your car like someone could take it or something,” White said.

Knowing now that Marshall is always watching, the risk of crime does not worry her or others as much.

“It made it very better, like you can’t be in the parking lot without seeing the robot,” White continued. “So, I think it scared them off.”

  • IllNess
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    5 hours ago

    They are already data mining you without these robots.

    They use facial recognition on cameras. They use OCR on your license plate and scan your toll pass. They use your phone location if you connect to their “free” wifi. They track your bluetooth devices that’s constantly looking to connect. They track you foot traffic and see what stores, what aisle, what product you picked it up and how long you had it in your hands.

    Google “Target loss prevention” stories of frequent shoplifters that had profiles on them for months and stop them when they can charge for grand larceny rather than petite larceny. There is a reason why Westfield malls are everywhere. It’s easier for them to control their own data than to constantly buy or contract out data from other companies.

    These bots are probably getting more data but they are more for security. A moving camera is more of criminal deterrent just because it is moving. These bots are so they don’t have to pay for more security guards than anything else.

    • Izzie🌴@freeradical.zone
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      2 hours ago

      @IllNess @j4k3

      I turn my Bluetooth, NFC and Wi-Fi on when i need to use them, otherwise they’re off.

      Partly for privacy but also for battery life.

      Do most people leave those on all the time?

      • IllNess
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        13 minutes ago

        I don’t have stats to back this up but most people, like high 90%, don’t turn any of that off.

    • j4k3@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      It is not like I fail to understand the use case. My issue is that data mining me is stealing from me. It is taking a part of my digital entity to manipulate me. It is digital slavery. To be okay with such a thing is to enslave one’s self; it is to fail at a fundamental understand of the three pillars of democracy and the role of freedom of information and the press. Forfeiting your right to ownership over your digital self undermines the entire democratic system of governance and is an enormous sociopolitical regression to the backwardness of feudalism.

      No ancient citizen of a democracy wanted feudalism. These things do not have a parade to welcome them, a coup, or a changing of the guard. This change is a killer in your sleep and a small amount of poison added to each of your meals. Every little concession is a forfeit of future people’s rights. This is that poison. I will go hungry. Enjoy your meal, I respect your right to eat it; after you’ve been warned of its contents. I reserve my right to speak of the poison to any that will listen.

      • IllNess
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        3 hours ago

        I agree with you that it sucks and is horrible. I wish there were more laws to protect us.

        Everything I stated is just a quick summary of why these robot really don’t do much for data collection and is more of a money saving matter to not hire more security personal.

        • j4k3@lemmy.world
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          2 hours ago

          I would agree more if the thing was a product purchased and operated by the establishment, but these things are always run by a third party and their interests and affiliations have no oversight or accountability. What happens when there is an abortion clinic with one of these present. What happens when the controlling company is in KKK christo-jihad hell where women have no rights like Florida, Texas, or Alabama? What about when the police execute someone at random, who loses that recording? No one knows any of these factors or should need to when they wish to walk into a store. This device is stealing your right to autonomy and citizenship as a result.

    • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
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      3 hours ago

      And that makes this thing OK?

      “More for security”. How does boot taste?

      These things track every Bluetooth device, every phone, every watch, every headset, etc, etc.

      It’s yet another increase in surveillance, and “it’s not a big deal because that’s already happening” is your response?

      Oh, and I’d bet a year’s salary these are leased, and the vendor owns all the collected data.

      This is about data collection, not security.

      • IllNess
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        3 hours ago

        Me explaining how they track you does not mean I agree with it.

        Your emotional state does not change reality.

        • GarbageShootAlt2@lemmy.ml
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          1 hour ago

          In a country with many vocal boot lickers (“play stupid games . . .”) it seems like a fair term to have in your lexicon