San Francisco's killer robots

The San Francisco board has voted to let police use robots that can kill.

Transcript

00:00San Francisco is going to let police use robots that can kill.

00:03The city's Board of Supervisors approved the use of potentially lethal remote-controlled

00:07robots in emergency situations in an 8-3 vote.

00:10The San Francisco Police Department said it does not have robots already armed, nor does

00:14it plan to give robots guns.

00:16The department currently owns 12 robots, which are used in low-visibility situations or to

00:20survey bombs.

00:21The approval gives the department the option to arm robots with explosive devices, which

00:26could be used to contact, incapacitate, or disorient violent, armed, or dangerous suspects,

00:32an SFPD spokesperson said.

00:34Those who opposed the proposal argued the measure would further militarize police that

00:38are already too aggressive with poor and minority communities.

00:42After a debate between both sides and prior to the vote, changes were made to indicate

00:46that the killer robots could only be deployed by high-ranking officers.

00:50The amendment also said that robots could only be authorized after alternative options

00:53and de-escalation tactics were used or after it was determined that suspects could not

00:58be subdued any other way.