San Francisco will allow police to deploy robots that kill
- San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted on policy regarding police robots despite strong objections
- The policy would allow law enforcement robots to use deadly force in ‘extreme’ circumstances
Supervisors in San Francisco voted to give city police the ability to use potentially lethal, remote-controlled robots in emergency situations.
Tuesday’s 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 militarisation 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 an 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.