San Francisco will allow police to deploy robots that kill

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

San Francisco will allow police to deploy robots that kill

By JANIE HAR
November 30, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Supervisors in San Francisco voted Tuesday to give city police the ability to use potentially lethal, remote-controlled robots in emergency situations -- following an emotionally charged debate that reflected divisions on the politically liberal board over support for law enforcement.

The vote was 8-3, with the majority agreeing to grant police the option despite strong objections from civil liberties and other police oversight groups. Opponents said the authority would lead to the further militarization of a police force already too aggressive with poor and minority communities.

Supervisor Connie Chan, a member of the committee that forwarded the proposal to the full board, said she understood concerns over use of force but that “according to state law, we are required to approve the use of these equipments. So here we are, and it’s definitely not a easy discussion.”

The San Francisco Police Department said it does not have pre-armed robots and has no plans to arm robots with guns. But the department could deploy robots equipped with explosive charges “to contact, incapacitate, or disorient violent, armed, or dangerous suspect” when lives are at stake, SFPD spokesperson Allison Maxie said in a statement.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/police-san-francisco-government-and-politics-d26121d7f7afb070102932e6a0754aa5

[alwaysinasnit]

1. You know, this type of thing would not have surprised me if it occurred in a red city, but SF. Jeez!

If this actually does come to fruition, expect this sort of action to spread rapidly to geographically red areas of the country.

[CentralMass]

2. What could possibly go wrong?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. I suspect you are confusing remote conrol robot (SF) with autonomous robots (not in play at all). nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Folks, guided robots are NOT autonomous. Take that on board when replying to the OP. . . nt

[Doc_Technical]

5. It's time to get robot insurance

[Aristus]

6. Great. More law enforcement incompetence. That's just what we need.

[chriscan64]

7. Why don't we work on new ways of stopping police killings first?

Now parents will have to add warnings about robots to "the talk".

[Igel]

8. "according to state law, we are required to approve the use of these equipments"

Huh?

[Solly Mack]

9. I'm sure signal jammers with multi-band frequency capabilities has never occurred to criminals.

Never. Not once.