San Francisco police will have ‘killer robots’ in its force which it will use in “extreme situations”. The ruling Board of Supervisors of the US city has voted to allow the city’s police to use robots that can kill.
The move allows police to install robots that contain explosives in extreme circumstances.
However, the move has caught the attention of critics. A coalition campaign Stop Killer Robots that works to ensure human control in the use of force and calls for a new international law on autonomy in weapons systems has called the move a “slippery slope” that could distance humans from killing.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) told the BBC that the police do not, as of now, use robots equipped with lethal force. However, they also hinted towards the future use of robots in killing if any situation would arise.
A police spokesperson said, “robots could potentially be equipped with explosive charges to breach fortified structures containing violent, armed, or dangerous subjects”.
They added that robots could also function to “incapacitate, or disorient violent, armed, or dangerous suspects who pose a risk of loss of life”.
Supporters of the measure said it would only be used in extreme situations. Opponents, on the other hand, fear the further militarisation of the police force.
The legislation was approved on Tuesday, with a provision that officers could only use robots equipped with lethal force after trying other de-escalation strategies.
Specifying the use of killer robots, the board said that only specific officers at higher designations could authorize its use.
Some parts of the United States already use this kind of lethal robot.
