Singapore is known as a “fine city,” a title with two different meanings: One is that it is a fine city to live in, while the second refers to its notoriously harsh fine system designed to keep the island nation in impeccable order.
Anyone who’s lived or visited Singapore will know that you can easily earn a fine upwards of $1,000 for activities such as importing or possessing chewing gum, jaywalking, inconsiderate bicycle parking, smoking outside of designated smoking zones, and inappropriate singing. Even tricking someone into thinking that he would be cursed or make divine beings unhappy if he did not obey you could get you jailed for a year.
According to Singapore’s Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), the fine city is now engaging in Robocop law enforcement, worrying some residents and visitors.
Other fines in Singapore include:
- Spitting on the street – fine $300
- Littering – fine $300 to $1,000
- Naked at home with curtains open, exposed to public view – fine $2,000
- Feeding the pigeons – fine up to $5,000
- Pet dogs running at people, vehicles, or bicycles, passing along a public road – fine $1,000
- Jaywalking – fine $50
- Eating or drinking inside the subway – fine up to $500
- Not flushing the toilet – fine $150
- Stealing WIFI Access – up to $10,000 or jailed up to 3 years
- Motorized mobility devices and motorcycles on footpaths – fine up to $10,000 or jailed six months
- Vandalism – punishment: Caning
- Possession of firecrackers – punishment: Caning
- Drug possession or trafficking of >20 grams – punishment: Death
- And the list goes on!
Xavier Robots
Singapore is testing a pair of robots that patrol public areas while looking out for “undesirable social behaviors.” The robots, dubbed “Xavier,” include 360-degree cameras, allowing them to continuously gaze at their surroundings for anyone breaking the law.
That 360-degree camera collects data, then feeds and processes it using AI video analytic software to detect and flag any undesirable behavior in real time. In addition, the robots can relay data to ground officers, who can respond when needed. The Xavier robots will search for any of the violations mentioned above and non-compliance with COVID-19 restrictions.
HTX explained:
“Once Xavier detects any of the above, it will trigger real-time alerts to the command-and-control center and display the appropriate message (depending on the scenario) to educate the public and deter such behaviors.”
In September, the Xavier robots were trialed in Toa Payoh Central, north of Singapore’s busy shopping Orchard district, for three weeks to detect any undesirable social behaviors.
Controversy Over Robot Law Enforcement
Robotic AI law enforcement is a growing field filled with controversy, and it’s easy to see why the public would concern over the use of robotic law enforcers since it’s a staple of dystopian fiction. For example, the New York Police Department trialed a Spot robot for law enforcement in December 2020. However, it canceled its $94,000 contract with Boston Dynamics early due to a public backlash.
In May, Singapore also deployed a Boston Dynamics Spot robot to help enforce COVID-19 restrictions in parks, ensuring the public followed the one-meter social distancing rules. On a lighter note, in 2020, a Spot robot was handing out contact-free beers to customers of a local bar in Sevilla, Spain.
Singapore has a remarkably low crime rate, pointing to a strong record for implementing strict policies to ensure public safety. However, critics argue that two Xavier robots serve to boost a heavy-handed approach to law enforcement in a country where drug traffickers are sentenced to death.
Project manager Micheal Lim believes that even though Singapore is safe, some unexpected incidents can happen, and if the robots are around, they can have a record of it. However, the video below shows how the robot is causing unease in Singapore streets, making people feel like they are being surveyed and need to be careful with what they say and do.
