San Francisco Walks Back On Policy To Allow Robots To Kill Criminals

Earlier this month, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) passed a move that concerned its citizens: the introduction of ‘killer robots’ to the force. 
 
When the plan was put to the vote by the Board of Supervisors, it won in a landslide, eight VS three. However, it now seems that the SFPD is rethinking its decision on the radical move.
 
The move would have seen a future where police could employ a remotely controlled and weaponized robot to aid in exceptional circumstances, such as suicide bombing or an active shooter.
 
Within the proposal, the robots were only allowed to be deployed after all avenues to rectify the situation had been exhausted. And even then, only certain higher-up officials on the force were permitted to use the droids.
 
The SFPD constructed the proposal after the state made it a law that Californian officials had to declare how their military-grade equipment was being used.
 
Although, with the rise of police brutality, especially at the demise of Black and Brown lives, it’s easy to see how the public began to feel uneasy about having their lives placed into that of a ‘killer robot.’ 
 
A second mandatory vote was held where the voters decided to U-turn their previous decision. The board voted, again, eight-to-three, but this time it was against the deployment of the droids.
 
That being said, there is no certainty that the vote will stay as is in the future.
 
The original plan has been sent back for review. After that, the Rules Committee could impose stricter measures for using the ‘killer robots’ or scrap the whole idea altogether.
 
 
 
[via Engadget and The Guardian, Photo 135817349 © Andreistanescu | Dreamstime.com]