Killer Robots in San Francisco!

[Mysterian]

San Francisco to allow police 'killer robots'​

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63816454

San Francisco's ruling Board of Supervisors has voted to let the city's police use robots that can kill.
The measure permits police to deploy robots equipped with explosives in extreme circumstances.
Dr Catherine Connolly, from the group Stop Killer Robots, said the move was a "slippery slope" that could distance humans from killing.
The city's police - the SFPD - told the BBC they do not currently operate any robots equipped with lethal force.

They said though that there may be future scenarios in which lethal force could be used by a robot.
A spokesperson for the police said "robots could potentially be equipped with explosive charges to breach fortified structures containing violent, armed, or dangerous subjects".

They also said robots could be used to "incapacitate, or disorient violent, armed, or dangerous suspects who pose a risk of loss of life".
Advocates for the measure said it would only be used in extreme situations.

Opponents, however, say the authority could lead to further militarisation of the police force.
The measure passed, with an amendment on Tuesday specifying that officers could only use robots wielding deadly force after employing alternative de-escalation tactics.

The board also stipulated that only a limited number of high-ranking officers could authorise its use.
This type of lethal robot is already in use in other parts of the United States.

In 2016, police in Dallas, Texas, used a robot armed with C-4 explosive to kill a sniper who had killed two officers and injured several more.
The SFPD said the department does not currently own any robots outfitted with lethal force, but said the measure might be needed in the future.
"No policy can anticipate every conceivable situation or exceptional circumstance which officers may face. The SFPD must be prepared, and have the ability, to respond proportionally," a spokesperson said.

The federal government has long dispensed military grade equipment, camouflage uniforms, bayonets and armoured vehicles to help local law enforcement.
But a California state law passed this year now requires city police forces to inventory military-grade equipment and seek approval for their use.
Dr Catherine Connolly, from the campaign group Stop Killer Robots, said the move could "make humans more and more distant from the use of force and the consequences of the use of force".

She also said the measure could make it "easier to make decisions to use lethal force in the first place".

 

[BrianL]

"Who cares if it works or not!" - Dick Jones

"You call this a glitch?" - The Old Man

One easy way to get away from them is to walk down some stairs.

 

[Micca]

I like it! For anyone concerned that a robot might kill an innocent person...robots get a pass until it happens the first time.

 

[BrianL]

Well, at least it's not this bad boy! Not only is he nuclear powered, he's addicted to drugs:

 

[Ms.Minnie]

RoboCop comes to mind. Scary stuff, I think I'm glad I live on the east coast.

 

[BrianL]

RoboCop comes to mind. Scary stuff, I think I'm glad I live on the east coast.

Yes, one thing people often misunderstand about that movie is that Robocop is not a good thing! Yes, Murphy is the hero, but his existence as a brutal killing machine designed to defend corporate insterests is at a minimum problematic. I do love that movie though - an all-time great! The second one is fun too, but not quite as poignant. The third and other material...ehhhh.

 

[RamblingMad]

Time to rewatch RoboCop.

It's great if you get it. Check out the Movies that Made Us on Netflix for a good making of.

 

[RamblingMad]

Yes, one thing people often misunderstand about that movie is that Robocop is not a good thing! Yes, Murphy is the hero, but his existence as a brutal killing machine designed to defend corporate insterests is at a minimum problematic. I do love that movie though - an all-time great! The second one is fun too, but not quite as poignant. The third and other material...ehhhh.

I did like the original TV series.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

RoboCop comes to mind. Scary stuff, I think I'm glad I live on the east coast.

The east coast already got some killer robots and cop RVs.

 

[BrianL]

I did like the original TV series.

Yeah, it was okay. There are even certian parts of the third movie that I like, but as whole it doesn't come together.

 

[disney-inspired]

As long as they don't use Cybermen and or Daleks...

 

[LuvOrlando]

Soooo not to put too sharp a point on this but in the particular city of San Fran guns are bad & mostly illegal in the hands of humans, but somehow a remote control gun in the hands of a human very far away is ok?

I'm not looking to debate the underlying ideas of what should or should not be, just making an observation of the lack of reason in play because this logic is utterly deranged.

 

[BrianL]

Soooo not to put too sharp a point on this but in the particular city of San Fran guns are bad & mostly illegal in the hands of humans, but somehow a remote control gun in the hands of a human very far away is ok?

I'm not looking to debate the underlying ideas of what should or should not be, just making an observation of the lack of reason in play because this logic is utterly deranged.

Well, my understanding is thet the robots would only use explosives. It is a Skynet approved plan.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Well, my understanding is thet the robots would only use explosives. It is a Skynet approved plan.

Big explosive or littler explosive, this is the same sort of semantics and definitions game Mr. Musk played with those mail order non flame throwers because the flame was under 10 feet, Skynet indeed...

 

[BrianL]

Big explosive or littler explosive, this is the same sort of semantics and definitions game Mr. Musk played with those mail order non flame throwers because the flame was under 10 feet, Skynet indeed...

Well, I was being a bit sarcastic there - not like explosives make it better - hence the Skynet comment.

 

[RamblingMad]

Soooo not to put too sharp a point on this but in the particular city of San Fran guns are bad & mostly illegal in the hands of humans, but somehow a remote control gun in the hands of a human very far away is ok?

I'm not looking to debate the underlying ideas of what should or should not be, just making an observation of the lack of reason in play because this logic is utterly deranged.

They can't get self driving cars to work. How are they going to get this to work?

 

[LuvOrlando]

They can't get self driving cars to work. How are they going to get this to work?

I would be inclined to agree this is a bizarre mix of the highest technical intelligence diluted by an appalling lack of EIQ. I hope these things never make it into the world with normal malfunctioning humans, troubling.

 

[RamblingMad]

I would be inclined to agree this is a bizarre mix of the highest technical intelligence diluted by an appalling lack of EIQ. I hope these things never make it into the world with normal malfunctioning humans.

More like scam school central.

 

[LuvOrlando]

More like scam school central.

Not sure about that, have you seen the quality of the robotics out of Boston Dynamics? Those things could easily be used in this capacity so I don't think it's a scam, but I do think it is a terrible idea. Just because one CAN do something does not mean one SHOULD do that thing. Humans are very good at overestimating their abilities and equally good underestimating the damage of unintended consequences.

 

[RamblingMad]

Not sure about that, have you seen the quality of the robotics out of Boston Dynamics? Those things could easily be used in this capacity so I don't think it's a scam, but I do think it is a terrible idea. Just because one CAN do something does not mean one SHOULD do that thing. Humans are very good at overestimating their abilities and equally good underestimating the damage of unintended consequences.

The pandemic taught me that the population lacks any interest in staying alive. A robot that shrinks the population seems like a good idea in that context.