San Francisco bars police from using killer robots, reversing recent vote

[LetMyPeopleVote]

In theory, deadly force is only justified to save the life of the officer or other persons. Absent the need to save a life, deadly force should not be used

Link to tweet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/12/07/san-francisco-killer-robot-cop/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to bar police from using robots to kill, in a striking reversal that comes just a week after it gave law enforcement that right in a limited number of situations.

The board had received widespread criticism after voting Nov. 29 to approve a police proposal authorizing law enforcement to deploy remote-controlled, ground-based robots to use deadly force when there is “imminent” risk to life and alternative measures to subdue the threat do not work.....

San Francisco’s police department acquired robots between 2010 and 2017, which they said were primarily used during situations involving explosives or those requiring officers to keep distance while securing a site. They currently are not equipped to use lethal force.

The department said that only a small number of high-ranking officials were authorized to deploy robots that could use lethal force. Police Chief William Scott had said that it would be used only as a “last resort option.”

[NickB79]

1. These aren't autonomous though

They're still piloted by a living human, just like all the drones military forces use around the world.

I still don't see the issue here.

[Hekate]

2. The operative question is: Is the Police Dept an occupying army? Are we civilians, or citizens?

Do they have a license to be judge, jury, and executioner on the spot?

Time to take away the military hardware, not add to it.

[kcr]

3. Police forces aren't supposed to be the military

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. For this thread