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Re:Google removes Catalan referendum app from Google Play af... by creaghpatr on Friday September 29, 2017 @04:44PM (#15369021)
In fact, Google purchased Boston Dynamics awhile back, although they sold to another tech giant, Softbank.

https://www.engadget.com/2017/06/08/softbank-boston-dynamics...

Cyberpunk speculating aside, I'm pretty sure Big Food companies (Coke, Monsonto, Kraft, etc) have private security contractors - due to the sheer amount of physical assets they control, it would be irresponsible to shareholders if they didn't.

Re:Google removes Catalan referendum app from Google Play af... by tomjakubowski on Friday September 29, 2017 @05:26PM (#15369371)
Coca Cola's bottling partner in Colombia was, quite famously, accused of using mercenaries to murder labor organizers in the early 00s. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/26/world/union-says-coca-cola...

Similar accusations were made against Coke's Guatemalan bottler a few years back. Of course, about a hundred years ago it wasn't uncommon for companies to use hired muscle to harass, beat, and even murder labor activists in the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre