Can Uber Eats Delivery Robots Be Used for Surveillance? Shared Footage With LAPD Used as Evidence in Criminal Case

A new revelation about a food delivery robot company collaborating with Uber Eats in Los Angeles has sparked privacy concerns.

Food Delivery Robot Company Operating With Uber Eats Imposes Constant Surveillance

The food delivery robot company collaborating with Uber Eats has provided video footage recorded by one of its robots to aid in a criminal investigation conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

The incident underscores the constant surveillance that delivery robots, now common on sidewalks in the city, inherently do. Moreover, it sheds light on using such footage as evidence in criminal trials.

A TikTok and YouTube channel known as FilmTheRobotsLA has amassed a substantial following by capturing the daily interactions of these robots on city sidewalks. The videos show instances where robots impede pedestrians and pets, occasionally finding themselves stuck in the middle of walkways and roads.

Collectively, these accounts have attracted hundreds of thousands of followers and accumulated tens of millions of views, reflecting the significant public interest and apprehension surrounding the presence of these robots.

The specific case in question pertained to a grand larceny involving two individuals who attempted to steal a robot belonging to Serve Robotics, a company with ambitious plans to deploy as many as "2,000 robots" for food deliveries on behalf of Uber Eats in Los Angeles.

Food Delivery Robot Company Shares Video With LAPD

The suspects were subsequently apprehended and later convicted. Subjected to public scrutiny, an email exchange from July 2023 bears the subject line "Evidence Submitted from Serve Robotics." This correspondence transpired between Aduke Thelwell, Head of Communications at Serve Robotics, and a detective representing the LAPD.

Obtained through a public records request with the LAPD by 404 Media, these emails shed light on the fact that, despite Serve's assertions regarding the autonomous capabilities of its robots and the deployment of "AI-powered" machines in the city, delivery robots are frequently operated remotely by human controllers.

The company explicitly mentions in its app that these robots operate in an "autonomous, remotely supervised manner. The emails revolve around a redacted subpoena issued by the LAPD in connection with the case that culminated in a criminal conviction.

Thelwell's message to D"etective Estrella "confirms the upload of robot camera footage, accompanied by a letter detailing the robot's cost, through a provided link, concluding with an offer of further assistance: "Please let us know if you need anything else."

Resembling wheeled coolers, these robots use cameras to navigate the city's streets and sidewalks. With the capacity to transport up to 50 pounds of food and a top speed of 12 miles per hour, Interesting Engineering reported that these automated couriers offer a convenient solution for food delivery.

Customers can place orders via the Uber Eats app and monitor the robot's progress, receiving real-time updates on its location and estimated arrival time. Customers can also observe the robot as it completes the delivery to bring the meal to their doorstep.