The Robotic Eye

This case study examines the evolution of domestic robotics, particularly the Roomba vacuum cleaner, as both a convenience technology and a vehicle for expansive data surveillance. Tracing the origins of robotics from science fiction and military development to their everyday domestic use, the study reveals how sensor-enabled robots collect, transmit, and analyze data about private spaces and human behavior. Devices like the Roomba do more than clean; they map interior layouts, recognize personal belongings, and potentially infer intimate information such as lifestyle, political leanings, or religious affiliation. While companies like iRobot claim to uphold privacy protections, acquisitions by tech giants such as Amazon raise new concerns about data monetization and surveillance capitalism. The case warns that data collected by domestic robots can be weaponized by authoritarian states or exploited by corporate interests, blurring the lines between convenience and intrusion. With digital privacy increasingly becoming a luxury, this case calls for urgent discussions about regulation, transparency, and consumer rights in the age of AI-powered domestic automation.