The Chinese city of Shanghai is currently under lockdown due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. To ensure citizens remain disciplined during the lockdown, Chinese authorities have deployed advanced technology in the form of drones and robot dogs.
Shanghai, a city of 26 million residents, is currently in phase two of a lockdown following a spike in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. This means that residents are asked to stay at home unless there is an urgent need, and must take mass COVID-19 tests.
This lockdown was implemented after the spike in COVID-19 cases in Shanghai to 30,000 in March 2022. China itself adheres to a 'zero-Covid' strategy so that everything is done to eradicate this virus.
Including deploying drones and robot dogs for patrols during the lockdown. This drone and robot action was immortalized by Chinese netizens who later went viral on Twitter.
Like the video uploaded by journalist Alice Su. The video, originally posted on Weibo, shows a drone with loudspeakers telling people to obey the lockdown and stop protesting.
"As seen on Weibo: Shanghai residents come out onto balconies to sing and protest the lack of food supplies," Su wrote in his tweet, as quoted by the Huffington Post, Saturday (9/4/2022).
"A drone appears: "Please comply with Covid restrictions. Control your soul's desire for freedom. Don't open windows or sing."
This protest is due to residents who are frustrated because the lockdown has not been lifted and the lack of assistance from the government. Many said they had difficulty accessing medical care and complained that it was difficult to buy food and daily supplies.
Another viral video shows a robot dog on patrol with a loudspeaker attached to its back. From the loudspeaker came a command asking residents not to leave their homes.
Twitter netizens were busy responding to this unique phenomenon. Some are afraid because they are seen as similar to the future of dystopia, but there are also those who are surprised to see that Shanghai residents are prohibited from going out of their balconies and singing.
"This is like the dystopia in Blade Runner. This is not the future that was promised to us," said one netizen.
"Lol that's very funny. I will immediately open all the windows and play the Sound of Music soundtrack towards the drone," wrote another netizen.
"Enter below: Yes, this is completely normal. Also how the world collides, robot dog with DIY megaphone attached to its back. Annoying future," said another netizen.