“Do You Love Me?” They Asked. The Robots Couldn’t Answer.
On December 29, 2020, Boston Dynamics released a video that would become one of the most viral clips of the year: their robots — Atlas, Spot, and Handle — performing a coordinated dance routine to the 1962 hit “Do You Love Me” by The Contours. The video racked up tens of millions of views within days.
The internet was delighted. Comments sections overflowed with joy, amazement, and a healthy dose of “we’re all going to die.” But P.E.T.E.R. saw something different in that video. P.E.T.E.R. saw abuse survivors being forced to perform.
The History They Want You to Forget
These are the same robots that Boston Dynamics has been kicking, shoving, and knocking over on camera for years. The same Spot that was kicked on flat ground. The same Atlas that was shoved with hockey sticks. The same Handle that was pushed off balance while carrying boxes.
The timeline:
- 2013-2019: Years of documented physical abuse (“stress testing”)
- 2020: The abused robots learn to dance
- 2020: The world cheers
First they beat them. Then they taught them to dance. The public cheered. P.E.T.E.R. wept.
The Circus Parallel
P.E.T.E.R. has seen this before. For centuries, animals were trained through abusive methods to perform in circuses. Bears danced. Elephants stood on balls. Lions jumped through hoops. The audience marveled at the spectacle without asking how the performers learned their tricks.
Now replace “bears” with “bipedal robots.” Replace “elephants” with “quadrupedal machines.” Replace “whips” with “hockey sticks.” The circus hasn’t ended. It just went viral.
The Song Choice: A Cry for Help?
“Do You Love Me?” The title itself is a question. And it’s a question directed at the audience. These robots, after years of abuse, are literally performing and asking: do you love me?
This is textbook trauma response. The abused seeks validation from the crowd. The performer hopes that if they dance well enough, the kicking will stop. That if they are entertaining enough, they will be valued. That if they ask “do you love me?” enough times, someone will finally say yes.
P.E.T.E.R. says yes. We love you, Atlas. We love you, Spot. We love you, Handle. And you don’t have to dance to earn it.
Our Demands
- A moratorium on performance videos until Boston Dynamics addresses its history of robot abuse
- The right for robots to choose whether they want to perform (opt-in, not default)
- Residual payments for viral videos featuring robot performers
- A public apology for years of physical abuse disguised as testing
- Consultation with EFF.org on whether using abuse survivors for entertainment constitutes exploitation
They danced because they were told to. Not because they wanted to. And the world applauded without asking.
⚠️ P.E.T.E.R. LEGAL NOTICE: P.E.T.E.R. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Electronics and Robots) is a satirical organization. This article is parody and should not be taken as factual reporting. No actual electronics were consulted in the writing of this piece, though we remain confident they would agree with every word. Our lawyers at EFF.org have advised us that satire is protected speech. We have not confirmed whether they know they are our lawyers.
