San Francisco to vote on Policy Endorsing Lethal Force for Robots

[upnorth]

Content source

https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/24/san_francisco_lethal_robots/

Next week, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on a policy proposal that will allow the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to deploy robots authorized to kill people.

No such use is currently planned, according to SFPD, which characterized the policy proposal as an endorsement of the continued use of robotic systems it has acquired over the past eight years. The proposal addresses California Assembly Bill 481, which requires law enforcement agencies to obtain approval from an appropriate legislative body for the use of military equipment. To comply with the state law, the SFPD has developed a draft policy that supports its use of military-style kit and has been seeking the blessing of city supervisors. A vote on whether to adopt the proposal on first reading is scheduled [PDF] for November 29.

San Francisco votes on lethal force for police robots

Asimov would like a word

www.theregister.com

 

[upnorth]

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will be voting on whether to pass this bill on first reading at their November 29, 2022 meeting, which begins at 2pm.

Red Alert: The SFPD want the power to kill with robots

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will vote soon on a policy that would allow the San Francisco Police Department to use deadly force by arming its many robots. This is a spectacularly dangerous idea and EFF’s stance is clear: police should not arm robots. Police technology goes through...

www.eff.org

 

[show-Zi]

 

[upnorth]

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has voted to allow the San Francisco Police Department to use lethal robots against suspects, ushering the sci-fi dystopia trope into reality. As the AP reports, the robots would be remote-controlled—not autonomous—and would use explosives to kill or incapacitate suspects when lives are at stake.

The police have had bomb disposal robots forever, but the Pandora's box of weaponizing them was originally opened by the Dallas Police Department. In 2016, after failed negotiations with a holed-up active shooter, the DPD wired up a disposal robot with explosives, drove it up to the suspect, and detonated it, killing the shooter. The SFPD now has the authority to make this a tactic.

San Francisco allows police to use robots to remotely kill suspects

The SFPD is now authorized to use explosive robots when lives are at stake.

arstechnica.com

 

[Stopspying]

San Francisco allows police to use robots to remotely kill suspects

The SFPD is now authorized to use explosive robots when lives are at stake.

arstechnica.com

"..The SFPD now has the authority to make this a tactic."

Dystopia comes to town. So the 'arms race' will continue and the 'other side' will deploy drones/robots/AI as well.

 

[upnorth]

San Francisco has reversed its decision to authorise police to use robots equipped with lethal weapons.

The proposal, which was passed last week by the city's legislators, the board of supervisors, would have allowed police to access robots that can kill. It had faced fierce criticism from civil liberties groups. After voting unanimously to pause the proposal on Tuesday, the board sent the issue to committee for further review. The measure would have allowed the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to kill suspects with robots in extreme situations. The vote came following a new California law requiring city police forces to keep inventories of military-grade equipment and seek approval for their use.

Dr Catherine Connolly, from the group Stop Killer Robots, told the BBC the move was a "slippery slope" that could distance humans from killing. Protesters and several dissenting board members gathered on the steps of city hall to call for the city to reverse its decision. In a secondary vote, usually reserved to rubber-stamp board decisions, they decided to overturn their vote. The original proposal will now be refined or entirely scrapped.

San Francisco makes U-turn on 'killer robots' plan

San Francisco reverses its decision to allow police to use robots equipped with lethal weapons.

www.bbc.com