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.

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.”

  • lazylion_ca@lemmy.ca
    2·
    8 days ago

    He has a license plate reader, he has facial recognition, he can read IP addresses from your cell phone or watch,”

    Uhhhh… How is it reading the ip addresses of people’s phones?

    • icedterminal@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      7 days ago

      Someone made a mistake here. It’s not getting your IP address. An IP address is assigned by the gateway when you’re connected to an access point. An IP address is not an identity. They are always changing and can be shared. This has already been tested and upheld in court.

      It’s actually collecting your MAC address. Which is exchanged when your phone or tablet scan nearby WiFi points or Bluetooth devices. However, this can already be defeated. By default iOS and Android both have the option to randomise the MAC address in intervals. Making it extremely difficult to prove anything. This feature exists because the devices real MAC address never changes. It is unique. Alternatively, users can disable WiFi and Bluetooth scanning entirely. However, your device no longer participates in the Find My Devices program by Apple and Google, location does take longer to acquire in some scenarios, and accuracy may take longer to triangulate.

  • j4k3@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    8 days ago

    I live under a rock and don’t get out much due to physical disability, but I don’t see a security improvement. I see a data mining monstrosity and further reason to avoid local retail.

    • IllNess@infosec.pub
      0·
      8 days 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.

    • octopus_ink@lemmy.mlEnglish
      0·
      8 days ago

      On the one hand, yes, on the other hand, it’s unlikely to brutalize or kill people for minor offenses, so maybe a win for a public space?

      • nocturne@sopuli.xyz
        1·
        8 days ago

        Unlikely, but there is still a chance. It could always call its pig cousins to brutalize or kill you on its behalf.

          • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.orgEnglish
            0·
            8 days ago

            maybe no legal expectation, however I ask you when were you or any other common person asked about legal expectations. don’t come with “everyone at election”, because everyone knows its not true, in any sense

            • octopus_ink@lemmy.mlEnglish
              0·
              8 days ago

              Dude, we’re on the same side in this, I just know what some battles have already been lost.

              • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.orgEnglish
                0·
                7 days ago

                i understand, and sorry if I offended you. my problem was you were referring to a legal expectation as if that should be everyone’s personal expectation

                • octopus_ink@lemmy.mlEnglish
                  1·
                  6 days ago

                  Not offended, just seemed like you thought I was excusing it. I’m not - just acknowledging it. 🙂