In San Francisco, police robots will be allowed to use deadly force.

The San Francisco Police Department has developed a new policy that would allow robots to neutralize suspects. Engadget.

The policy would allow access to military-grade weapons.

“[Robots] may be used as a deadly option for applying force when the risk of death to members of the public or officers is imminent and outweighs any other option,” the draft says.

According to Mission Local, members of the City Oversight Committee’s Rules Committee have been reviewing the policy for weeks. The initial version of the document did not include language allowing robots to use deadly force.

However, SF Oversight Board member Aaron Peskin added to the draft a clarification that robots should not be used to apply force against any person.

After some time the police department returned the draft, replacing the amendment with a provision granting robots the authority to kill suspects.

Peskin ultimately aligned with the police stance, arguing that there could be scenarios where deadly force would be the only option.

The San Francisco Rules Committee unanimously approved the draft version. On November 29 it will be presented to the Oversight Board.

Currently the police have 17 remotely piloted robots, 12 of which are in operation. They are also planned to be used in “training and simulations, detentions of criminals, critical incidents, emergencies, or during the assessment of suspicious devices”.

In September, the San Francisco City Council voted to provide police with real-time access to private surveillance cameras.

In May 2021, the New York Police Department removed a Boston Dynamics robodog from service because of its aggressive and intimidating appearance.

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