It sounds like something out of a dark sci-fi movie, but in the American city of San Francisco it is now a reality: the police can use killer robots to kill people. Only in certain emergency situations, according to the directive approved on Tuesday.
Police said they wanted to be able to use the deadly robots against violent suspects such as mass shooters or suicide bombers, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Specifically, the new police policy states: “Robots will only be used as a lethal force option when there is a risk of loss of life or agents and officers are unable to contain the threat after trying alternate force options. or have used de-escalation tactics, or have concluded after evaluation of alternative violent options or de-escalation tactics that they cannot contain the threat.”
Only the Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of Police or Deputy Chief of Special Operations can authorize the use of lethal robots.
Killer robots already in action in Dallas
The police already has twelve robots that are already in use. What is new, however, is that they are also allowed to kill people. With the new directive, the machines must first be upgraded. All of these robots are capable of “handling criminal arrests, critical incidents, urgent circumstances, executing an order to inspect suspicious devices” and more, Robert Rueca, spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), said under the new policy.
So far there have been no plans to equip the machines with weapons such as rifles or pistols, but with explosive charges. For example, the Remotec F5A can be upgraded to a killer robot. The part can climb stairs, move objects up to 40 kilograms and stand up on its own if it falls over.
The fact that robots are used by the police in the US is not new. Not even to kill people. In 2016, a robot armed with an explosive device was used in Dallas. A man had killed five police officers and then holed up. He was eventually eliminated with the robot. Now such robots will also be deployed in San Francisco.
“This is not the US military”
The deputy head of the SFPD tries to calm concerned citizens. The new permit is intended to give police “an additional tool to save the lives of officers and the lives of other people”. It’s not primarily about killing, it’s about protecting.
Yet some politicians continue to oppose the decision. “This is a local police force to protect us. That’s not the US military we’re arming,” said Dean Preston, a member of the post-approval regulator. There is no evidence that the police actually depend on such robots. Preston and other members had unsuccessfully tried to prevent the new policy.
That the police in San Francisco would be given more powers has been discussed for several months. It was not until September that the regulator voted whether the police could temporarily use live surveillance cameras in certain cases. Despite strong objections from critics concerned about privacy rights, the motion passed. (jmh)