Dublin, Ohio, has officially welcomed a new kind of law enforcement presence. What was once the stuff of science fiction is now quietly rolling through our streets in the form of an AI-powered patrol bot, thanks to the frenzy around machine learning tech.
Dubbed “DubBot,” the city’s AI-powered security robot now patrols public spaces like the Rock Cress Parking Garage and Riverside Crossing Park, quietly capturing 360-degree footage, scanning for “unusual activity,” and streaming live video back to police in real time. It’s part of a two-year pilot program to enhance public safety, but beneath the flashing lights and friendly name lies deeper concerns about your privacy and rights.
In this article, the Dublin criminal defense lawyers at Luftman Heck & Associates explain your rights under Ohio law, who owns the footage from these police robots, and what steps to take if you believe your privacy is being violated. As the line between public safety and permanent surveillance blurs, LHA is here to keep you informed and help if you’re accused of a crime.
What Are Dublin’s Police Robots & Where Are They?
Dublin’s new robotic patrol units may look like something out of a futuristic film, but they’re real and already on duty. Known as “DubBot” and soon to be joined by “Bridge Walker,” these AI-powered security robots are part of a $238,000, two-year pilot program to expand the city’s public safety presence without adding more traditional officers on the ground.
While the City frames these machines as “community safety assets,” it’s essential to understand how they function, where they operate, and what to expect when you encounter one, even if you walk by one.
What Do These Robots Actually Do?
Powered by autonomous navigation and machine learning, these units are equipped with:
- 360-degree HD cameras for continuous visual surveillance
- LiDAR scanning to navigate and map surroundings in real time
- Two-way audio communication, allowing people to speak directly to police dispatch
- Live video streaming, accessible by officers at any time
- Behavioral alerts, which notify law enforcement of “unusual” groupings or activities
- Emergency buttons that connect directly to 911
While these robots don’t carry weapons, they represent a new digital layer of police presence that records, stores, and transmits data continuously.
Where You’ll Encounter Them
- DubBot is actively patrolling the Rock Cress Parking Garage, near the Dublin branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
- Bridge Walker, which will launch later this year, will patrol Riverside Crossing Park and the Dublin Link pedestrian bridge.
Both police bots are housed in secure docking stations, operate in 12-hour shifts, and recharge between patrols.
What to Expect if You Encounter a Police Robot in Dublin
Described by the Dublin police department as “force multipliers,” these machines are designed to be highly visible and actively integrated into public life.
Here are some possible scenarios where you’ll run into them:
Rock Cress Parking Garage – Stopped for Loitering
In the Rock Cress Parking Garage, DubBot is programmed to deter car break-ins, vandalism, and unauthorized gatherings. Using 360-degree cameras, LiDAR scanners, and real-time data streaming, it monitors vehicles, foot traffic, and group behavior to detect loitering or abnormal movement patterns. It’s meant to scan for potential threats while maintaining officer presence in areas they can’t patrol 24/7.
That all sounds fine, but let’s say you arrive early to meet a friend and wait by your car to send a text. DubBot approaches, and because you’ve been stationary too long, the system may log you as a loiterer. If it detects no “purposeful” movement, it could trigger a behavioral alert, prompting a recorded warning or even notifying police. What starts as a natural behavior, quickly recognized by a trained human officer, could be flagged and unnecessarily escalated by a robot that doesn’t understand context.
Riverside Crossing Park: Can Your Picnic Trigger an Alert?
It’s a sunny weekend, and you’re enjoying a picnic with friends at Riverside Crossing Park near the Dublin Link bridge. Bridge Walker then glides through the grass, recording everything in its path. Once your group hits five or more people, its crowd-monitoring algorithm kicks in, flagging the gathering as potentially suspicious.
Moments later, it plays a generic warning message. If your group stays too long or draws more attention, the system may notify the police. What began as a harmless lunch has now been logged and classified because a robot decided your picnic was “unusual.”
Downtown Events: Flagged for Dancing?
At a lively street festival in Historic Dublin, you’re dancing in a crowd while music blares and people celebrate. DubBot weaves between attendees, scanning faces, tracking movement, and mapping behavioral patterns. Its AI is trained to detect “abnormal group behavior,” but it doesn’t know the difference between joy and chaos.
As you move freely in the crowd, your activity may be tagged for review or flagged by officers watching the live feed. You’re not breaking any laws; however, you’re still being watched, recorded, and possibly profiled.
Why Do Dublin’s Police Robots Matter?
City officials describe these bots as “friendly” community helpers, but don’t be fooled by the blinking lights, robotic voices, or cute names. These machines are mobile surveillance hubs with 360-degree cameras, facial-level scanners, behavioral alert systems, and real-time communication with law enforcement. They don’t need your consent and don’t stop recording regardless of who you are or what you’re doing.
While the city may frame them as tools for public safety, they represent something more significant: a shift from human discretion to automated enforcement—from community policing to continuous, context-blind surveillance. Whether you’re walking your dog, attending a festival, or simply waiting for a friend in a parking garage, these robots are logging your movements, analyzing your behavior, and potentially flagging you in a system you can’t see and didn’t opt into.
Your Rights in Public Spaces Under Ohio Law
- You can be recorded in public. – Ohio law generally allows video surveillance in public spaces where there is no “reasonable expectation of privacy.” This means you can legally be filmed by both police and private entities when walking, driving, or gathering in parks, streets, or parking garages.
- But your rights don’t disappear – You still have protections against unlawful search, harassment, and data misuse under the Fourth Amendment and Ohio’s right to privacy doctrines. AI surveillance tools that go beyond passive monitoring—or are used to unfairly target or track individuals—could raise legal and constitutional issues.
- You may have the right to access footage – If you believe footage involving you is being misused, or you’re accused of a crime based on robot-captured video you may be able to request a copy through a public records request or use it as part of your legal defense.
- Constant surveillance vs unlimited authority – Just because you’re in a public space doesn’t mean the government can track, profile, or store your behavior without limits. Law enforcement still must follow proper procedure when using surveillance as evidence or justification for a stop.
Who Owns the Data Captured by These Robots?
The robots patrolling Dublin, such as “DubBot” and “Bridge Walker,” are manufactured by Knightscope, a California-based tech company. However, under the terms of Dublin’s pilot program, the City of Dublin and its police department are the ones who control and access the data. While Knightscope provides the technology and support, the footage belongs to the city—not a private company.
That means any video or audio collected by the robots is government property, and legally subject to public records laws, use in investigations, or even subpoena in court. In other words, it’s real evidence and it’s likely archived for a period of time, depending on the city’s internal data retention policies.
How is the Data Recorded by the Robots Used?
Like many issues regarding AI-data, it’s complicated. According to city officials, footage is primarily used to monitor public safety, respond to emergencies, and review incidents. But that’s not where the data’s role ends. If police believe the footage shows suspicious activity, they may use it to initiate investigations, issue citations, or support charges in criminal cases. Sometimes, that footage may even justify an in-person stop or future surveillance.
And here’s the key: you don’t have to be involved in a crime to be recorded or logged. Simply standing near one of these bots, moving in a certain way, or being part of a flagged group can land you in the system. From there, that data may be stored, analyzed, or cross-referenced with other public surveillance tools—like license plate readers or facial recognition tech.
How Long Does Dublin Keep AI Robot Footage?
Dublin hasn’t publicly released its full data retention schedule for DubBot and Bridge Walker, but these are the general best practices for law enforcement video storage:
- Routine Footage: May be stored for 30 to 90 days, unless flagged for review
- Flagged or Alert-Triggered Footage: Likely stored longer, possibly indefinitely if tied to an incident or used in a case
- Footage Used as Evidence: Preserved per criminal procedure could be months or years
It’s important to know that even footage showing no crime at all may be retained if the AI flags it. If you’re concerned your movements or image were captured and stored, you can file a Public Records Request with the City of Dublin or consult with an attorney t if it’s used against you.
When Does AI Police Surveillance Become Invasive?
Surveillance in public spaces is legal but not limitless. Ohio law allows video monitoring where there’s no reasonable expectation of privacy, but that doesn’t give law enforcement or AI systems free rein. When tools like DubBot begin constantly recording, profiling behavior, or triggering police response based on vague algorithms, it raises serious Fourth Amendment concerns.
Surveillance becomes invasive when it substitutes automated suspicion for human judgment, especially if it results in being flagged, questioned, or added to a digital database without breaking the law.
Dublin’s robots don’t understand context. They see motion, group size, and location, not intent. While the city claims they enhance public safety, unchecked use of this tech risks eroding civil liberties in everyday life. Without clear oversight, persistent AI monitoring blurs the line between community safety and government overreach. Dublin residents should know that just because you’re in public doesn’t mean your rights stop in the presence of a robo-cop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dublin’s Police Bots
Can Police Robots in Dublin, Ohio Legally Record Me?
Yes. Under Ohio law, there is generally no expectation of privacy in public spaces, meaning you can be recorded without your consent by police robots like DubBot. However, using that footage must still comply with constitutional protections, including the Fourth Amendment.
Are Dublin’s Police Robots a Violation of My Civil Rights?
Not inherently, but if the technology results in unfair targeting, discriminatory surveillance, or unreasonable searches, it could raise constitutional issues under the Fourth Amendment or Ohio’s right to privacy laws. These cases depend heavily on how the technology is used, not just its presence.
What are the Dublin Police Robots Recording?
The robots continuously capture 360-degree video footage, audio, and behavioral data through cameras, microphones, LiDAR, and motion sensors. This information is streamed in real time to the Dublin Police Department and may be stored or flagged for review.
Where Are Dublin’s Police Robots Patrolling?
As of now, DubBot is patrolling the Rock Cress Parking Garage, and later this year, Bridge Walker will be deployed to Riverside Crossing Park and the Dublin Link pedestrian bridge. Both are part of a two-year pilot program to increase police presence in high-traffic areas.
What Should I Do If I’m Approached or Flagged by a Police Robot?
Remain calm and avoid engaging the robot beyond what’s necessary. If you receive a warning or believe the bot has triggered a police response without cause, document the event and consult an attorney. You have the right to challenge improper surveillance.
Can a Robot Mistake Me for Acting Suspicious?
Yes. The robots use algorithms to detect “anomalous behavior,” such as lingering in one spot or being part of a group. These systems do not understand human context and may flag innocent actions like waiting by your car or dancing in a crowd as suspicious.
Can AI Robot Footage Be Used Against Me in Court?
Yes. If the footage captures conduct that the police consider relevant to an investigation, it may be used as evidence. However, the defense can challenge how the footage was obtained, interpreted, and whether it meets evidentiary standards.
Know Your Rights & Contact the Dublin Lawyers at LHA
If you believe you’ve been unfairly flagged, stopped, or recorded by an AI police robot in Dublin, you’re not powerless. At Luftman, Heck & Associates, our local and experienced defense attorneys are closely monitoring the city’s surveillance initiatives and are prepared to defend your rights.
Charged with a crime in Dublin? Contact LHA for a free and confidential case evaluation. Our Dublin defense lawyers will review your situation, explain the law, and guide you toward the best possible outcome.
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