Morgoth

I’ve known this for a while, but I thought it worth mentioning here.

Samsung, known mostly for their consumer products, are also the creators of a machine gun robot which can track and kill humans on sight. It has been bought by the South Korean military to use in the de-militarised zone between North and South Korea and several of them are reputedly in use though it’s unclear whether or not they have fired on anyone yet.


Promotional video in Korean.





More info here, including the slightly reassuring information that as it's currently used, it does require a human to order the killing, although it is capable of acting without it.


Most people reporting on this story can’t seem to get past the part where ROBOTS ARE COOL AND KILLER ROBOTS ARE BADASS, LOLZ.

I report this for the information of those who would prefer not to buy their consumer electronics from people who develop machines to kill people. It’s true that Samsung are one of a few consumer electronics manufacturers to be involved in the arms industry, and all of the consumer electronics manufacturers are involved in highly unethical practices. It’s of course up to individuals where they draw a personal line in who they give custom to. Personally, this is over the line for me.

Argent Stonecutter

SAMSUNG MEANS TO COME

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The previous is a cybernetic datum published - in direct contravention of DoD Regulation #229RR3X3 - as being conducive to the physical, psychological and/or social well-being of the population.

Morgoth

My reaction after recovering from ear drum hurtage from that thing you posted and watching it for a short while:

Lucifer Baphomet

You'd be hard pressed to find a company of that size not in defence work.

Phillips for example has a division called Philips Research Laboratories, formerly called Mullard Equipment Limited, MEL specialised in military electronics.

It gets more complex when you look at holding companies like the Carlyle group, who hold a major interest in QinetiQ, the UK arms manufacturer (whose subsidiary Foster Miller make the TALON, america's army robot), and also companies like Dunkin Donuts, and Hertz Car Rentals.

The Military Industrial Complex is more pervasive than many of us realise.

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Nibb Tardis

The scary bit is the voice recognition password to avoid getting shot. I hope it isn't powered by Siri.

Richie Waves

Morgoth

Lucifer- yes, I mentioned this in my post. However, not all consumer electronics companies are directly involved in the arms industry (I er.. hope). Of those that are, (again, I hope) there are only a few that are directly involved in making the actual weapons. Hence my comment about where to draw the line. You're right the holding companies as well as subsidiary companies make everything way more pervasive, that's another thing complicates matters.

Samsung are, however, demonstrably involved in developing robots for the purpose of killing people. Siemens are another that directly have developed weapons. As for Philips, it certainly seems a subsidiary of theirs is involved in developing missiles. I used to have a book that rated companies on their involvement in such things but annoyingly I can't find it just now to get more evidence as to which ones haven't.

Lucifer Baphomet

Oh, I agree with your OP, Morgoth....

It's just that this whole thing is so pervasive.

Look at the Banking Industry and how it invests in the Arms Trade.

You literally can't move without coming across these sorts of connections.

Teeny Leviathan

The clip title refers to the robot as a "Machine Gun Sentry Robot". From what I saw, its not an offensive weapon. I don't think we will see these things rolling up Main Street, clearing away picket lines. It appears to be an automated guard. It looks like something that would be used to guard a military installation. It doesn't look for trouble, trouble comes to it.

Personally, I would not worry about this model. If Samsung creates one that kills people, kicks in doors, peers through walls or taps your phone, then I would worry.

Morgoth

I am perfectly aware of what it is and what it does, thank you. But thanks for letting me know your moral line in the sand is far beyond this.

Defensive or offensive, killing is part of what it's for. It has the ability to shoot someone dead when it perceives someone hasn't responded to a password correctly and if it does not perceive someone has raised their hands above their head in a sign of surrender. Given the high potential for errors, even if they reputedly do not put it on automatic mode currently, this feature is .. irresponsible to say the least.

It certainly isn't any reason to personally worry though, after all, it's in Korea.

Again, my original post was intended for the information of those who prefer not to spend money on people who manufacture devices for killing people.

eku Zhong

you know who else used to be in the killing biz?







and last but not least..

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eighthdwarf Checchinato

It is built to kill on sight - hence it's an offensive weapon.
You don't need a robot to have to kick in doors when it has a 5.5 mm machine gun built on.
And the phone tapping is already done, for ages.
You use your smartphone for phonecalls and to browse the Internet? HSA already knows where you are (thanks GPS), who you call when and how long, what you tell them, what you browse for and what you type. And that's not only with Samsung but with other smartphones as well.
Except if you manage to give that device another OS that disables those sniffing functions.

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Void

how much stock does one need to buy to get free samples?

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Cerise

Samsung also made F-16s, and I think it still has an interest in KAI, the spinoff that took over the aircraft business.

detrius

Samsung is so big, they have their fingers in everything, making is virtually impossible to boycott them.

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Void

1 User Groaned: Morgoth

hey, I'm just a pragmatist ...

... besides the more i get for free, the less they can sell right?

absolutely no evil or sinister motives here ...

>.>

<.<

... that you can prove