San Francisco Bans the Police Force’s Killer Robots After Backlash

Updated December 7, 2022

• San Francisco lawmakers voted to ban the police department's robots from using deadly force on people, reversing last week's decision to allow lethal robots.
• The new vote came after widespread criticism and backlash from civil rights groups pushing back against the militarization of U.S. police forces. Following the protests, the issue was sent back to a committee for further discussion, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.  

What’s the story? 

• The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) will allow its law enforcement robots to use deadly force on people in emergencies. After weeks of heated debate, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved the controversial policy. 

Image shared by the San Francisco Police Officers Association

• The board of supervisors initially added to the SFPD’s proposal that the robots are not to be a “Use of Force against any person.” However, the SFPD crossed out the line and rephrased it to justify deadly force in the face of danger. 
• The amended policy states that only high-ranking officers can authorize deadly force. It does not specify how the weapons can be equipped, making opponents fear the SFPD’s interpretation of how to arm the robots. The policy states: 

“Robots will only be used as a deadly force option when [the] risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and outweighs any other force option available to SFPD.”

• The decision comes after the passing of a new California law that requires all police departments to receive approval for their military-grade equipment. The SFPD’s inventory listed a dozen functioning ground robots used to assess bombs, serve warrants, investigate situations for police officers, and more. 
• SFPD said it's had unarmed robots for over a decade and has no plans to arm robots with guns. However, David Lazar, the city’s assistant police chief, said the robots could be equipped with explosives moving forward.  

What're they saying?

• Supporters of the policy believe these robots are necessary with the mass shootings happening around the country. They reason that San Francisco is becoming increasingly dangerous and that having the option of robots in threatening situations is vital to their safety. 
• Lazar argued that the robots would be helpful in situations involving an active shooter or a suicide bomber. Lazar said: 

“We have it as a tool [we can use] if we have time, have secured the scene and we weigh out if we want to risk lives or if can we send a robot.”

• Opponents of the decision say it will lead to further militarization of the SFPD, which is already believed to be too aggressive with marginalized and underserved communities. In addition, they argue that the parameters of the policy are too vague and give the police force too much power over the city’s people. 
• Hilary Ronen, a supervisor on the city’s board, said she was surprised that in 2022, this is the decision leaders have come to. She said: 

“We have seen a history of these [weapons] leading to tragedy and destruction all over the world.”

Even worse than I thought! Only three of us - myself, @shamannwalton and @DeanPreston voted against arming robots with weapons to kill. A damn shame.

— Hillary Ronen (@HillaryRonen) November 30, 2022

• Supporters brought up a mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017, where the robots could have been equipped with explosives and used against the shooter. Opposing supervisors argued that this example is a scare tactic and that this tool would disproportionately impact low-income Black and Latinx residents. 
• Dean Preston, a supervisor representing San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, said: 

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing…these kinds of tools will deepen the disparities in inflicting deadly force on communities.” 

Do you want robots that can use deadly force in your city?

-Jamie Epstein

(Photo Credit: Istock / Onfokus)_