The San Francisco City Council on Tuesday declined to pass a resolution calling for law enforcement to use killable robots, but didn’t rule out the idea outright and referred the measure back to the committee.
These “killer robots”, which are to be used in certain extreme cases such as terrorist attacks or mass killings, have caused a great deal of controversy after the city council voted in favor of their use last week.
“Last week I supported the legislation despite ethical concerns, but for the past week I have not felt comfortable with the issue. I don’t think armed, remote-controlled robots will make us safer,” Councilman Gordon Mar said Tuesday.
Eventually, the council backed down by passing legislation that would allow the San Francisco police force to acquire military equipment, but without the use of robots.
This was sent back to committee and will be put to the vote again shortly.
Many opponents have criticized the move, fearing it will lead to an increase in police violence and a future worthy of the Robocop movie.
During the municipal council session, several opponents appeared with signatures in hand.
Earlier in the day, dozens of people protested outside San Francisco City Hall with signs saying “police should not be armed with new weapons” or further declaring that “killer robots are not the solution.”
“The use of robots in potentially deadly situations is a last resort,” San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said in a statement in early December.
“We live in a time where mass violence is becoming more common,” he said. “We need this option to save lives should such a tragedy occur in our city.”
The San Francisco Police Department currently has several robots that it can control remotely, which are used when officers need to keep their distance before securing a location, such as during a bomb threat.
The new measure would allow these robots to be used to place an “explosive charge” capable of “incapacitating or disorienting an armed or dangerously violent suspect who is at risk of death,” according to the statement the police.