A new image from Mexico shows a futuristic security guard for the 2026 World Cup: a robotic dog patrolling the stands. The technology, developed by a US firm, is being tested ahead of the tournament. But British security companies are now competing for the lucrative contract to supply similar units to other venues.
The robodog, named 'Spot', can navigate stairs, open doors, and transmit live video. Critics argue that such devices could displace low-skilled security workers, many of whom are migrants. Labour unions in Mexico have already voiced concerns over job losses.
For British firms, the contract is a chance to break into a growing market. The global market for robotic security is expected to reach £12 billion by 2030. However, the cost of each unit is around £50,000, a price that many developing nations may struggle to afford.
The Home Office has not commented on whether it would approve the export of such technology. But the debate highlights a wider tension: as automation creeps into security, what happens to the human workers who rely on these roles to feed their families?
