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Long Beach police prepare a robot to search for a shooting suspect near Atlantic Ave and 11th Street just north of St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, Calif. on September 9, 2005. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Victory Over Killer Robots as San Francisco Agrees to Ban Them--For Now
In one week, San Francisco and the greater Bay Area rallied to tell the Board that this policy was unacceptable. That rallying cry was so loud and undeniable that it was impossible for the Board, and the world, to ignore.
Dec 08, 2022
In a stunning 8-to-3 vote Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors banned the SFPD from using deadly force with remote-controlled robots. The Board also sent the killer robot policy back to its Rules Committee for revisions and more public comment. This is a big reversal: just one week ago, the Board voted 8-3 to authorize the SFPD to use these killer robots.
This could not have been achieved without the hard work of activists and residents across the Bay Area who worked together, made their voices heard, and came out to a rally early on a Monday morning.
In one week, San Francisco and the greater Bay Area rallied to tell the Board that this policy was unacceptable. That rallying cry was so loud and undeniable that it was impossible for the Board, and the world, to ignore. The campaign to stop killer robots was covered by news outlets all over the world as people waited to see what kind of precedent would be set for law enforcement. Opponents staged a rally against the policy, and over 50 local organizations signed a coalition letter demanding that the Board reverse course on killer robots, ... and they did.
But even as we take this moment to celebrate, make no mistake: the fight to stop killer robots in San Francisco, and around the country, is not over.
What happens next?
The Board sent the killer robot back to its Rules Committee. We may have to debate all over again the rules for police robots in San Francisco. The community will have more opportunities to give public comments. So will the police. They may try to find a more reasonable way to sell the idea of armed robots. We will stay vigilant and engaged.
Luckily, a majority of the Board of Supervisors voted to ban killer robots for the time being. Hopefully, they will support a permanent ban.
YOU Did It
This could not have been achieved without the hard work of activists and residents across the Bay Area who worked together, made their voices heard, and came out to a rally early on a Monday morning. We're thankful for the leadership of the stalwart city leaders who never backed down on this issue: Supervisor Preston, Supervisor Rosen, and Board President Walton. We also appreciate supervisors Mar, Chan, Melgar, Peskin, and Safai for changing their votes.
The world was watching to see if a diverse and politically lively city would allow its police to kill with robots. The negative national attention this received should make it obvious not only to San Francisco, but to community leaders around the country and the globe that this policy was extremely unpopular. We're proud that San Francisco said "no" ...for now. Residents should have protection against killer robots, and we will continue the fight to make sure that happens.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Matthew Guariglia
Matthew Guariglia is a policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) working on issues of surveillance and privacy at the local, state, and federal level. He received a PhD in history at the University of Connecticut where his research focused on the intersection of race, immigration, U.S. imperialism, and policing in New York City.
In a stunning 8-to-3 vote Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors banned the SFPD from using deadly force with remote-controlled robots. The Board also sent the killer robot policy back to its Rules Committee for revisions and more public comment. This is a big reversal: just one week ago, the Board voted 8-3 to authorize the SFPD to use these killer robots.
This could not have been achieved without the hard work of activists and residents across the Bay Area who worked together, made their voices heard, and came out to a rally early on a Monday morning.
In one week, San Francisco and the greater Bay Area rallied to tell the Board that this policy was unacceptable. That rallying cry was so loud and undeniable that it was impossible for the Board, and the world, to ignore. The campaign to stop killer robots was covered by news outlets all over the world as people waited to see what kind of precedent would be set for law enforcement. Opponents staged a rally against the policy, and over 50 local organizations signed a coalition letter demanding that the Board reverse course on killer robots, ... and they did.
But even as we take this moment to celebrate, make no mistake: the fight to stop killer robots in San Francisco, and around the country, is not over.
What happens next?
The Board sent the killer robot back to its Rules Committee. We may have to debate all over again the rules for police robots in San Francisco. The community will have more opportunities to give public comments. So will the police. They may try to find a more reasonable way to sell the idea of armed robots. We will stay vigilant and engaged.
Luckily, a majority of the Board of Supervisors voted to ban killer robots for the time being. Hopefully, they will support a permanent ban.
YOU Did It
This could not have been achieved without the hard work of activists and residents across the Bay Area who worked together, made their voices heard, and came out to a rally early on a Monday morning. We're thankful for the leadership of the stalwart city leaders who never backed down on this issue: Supervisor Preston, Supervisor Rosen, and Board President Walton. We also appreciate supervisors Mar, Chan, Melgar, Peskin, and Safai for changing their votes.
The world was watching to see if a diverse and politically lively city would allow its police to kill with robots. The negative national attention this received should make it obvious not only to San Francisco, but to community leaders around the country and the globe that this policy was extremely unpopular. We're proud that San Francisco said "no" ...for now. Residents should have protection against killer robots, and we will continue the fight to make sure that happens.
Matthew Guariglia
Matthew Guariglia is a policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) working on issues of surveillance and privacy at the local, state, and federal level. He received a PhD in history at the University of Connecticut where his research focused on the intersection of race, immigration, U.S. imperialism, and policing in New York City.
In a stunning 8-to-3 vote Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors banned the SFPD from using deadly force with remote-controlled robots. The Board also sent the killer robot policy back to its Rules Committee for revisions and more public comment. This is a big reversal: just one week ago, the Board voted 8-3 to authorize the SFPD to use these killer robots.
This could not have been achieved without the hard work of activists and residents across the Bay Area who worked together, made their voices heard, and came out to a rally early on a Monday morning.
In one week, San Francisco and the greater Bay Area rallied to tell the Board that this policy was unacceptable. That rallying cry was so loud and undeniable that it was impossible for the Board, and the world, to ignore. The campaign to stop killer robots was covered by news outlets all over the world as people waited to see what kind of precedent would be set for law enforcement. Opponents staged a rally against the policy, and over 50 local organizations signed a coalition letter demanding that the Board reverse course on killer robots, ... and they did.
But even as we take this moment to celebrate, make no mistake: the fight to stop killer robots in San Francisco, and around the country, is not over.
What happens next?
The Board sent the killer robot back to its Rules Committee. We may have to debate all over again the rules for police robots in San Francisco. The community will have more opportunities to give public comments. So will the police. They may try to find a more reasonable way to sell the idea of armed robots. We will stay vigilant and engaged.
Luckily, a majority of the Board of Supervisors voted to ban killer robots for the time being. Hopefully, they will support a permanent ban.
YOU Did It
This could not have been achieved without the hard work of activists and residents across the Bay Area who worked together, made their voices heard, and came out to a rally early on a Monday morning. We're thankful for the leadership of the stalwart city leaders who never backed down on this issue: Supervisor Preston, Supervisor Rosen, and Board President Walton. We also appreciate supervisors Mar, Chan, Melgar, Peskin, and Safai for changing their votes.
The world was watching to see if a diverse and politically lively city would allow its police to kill with robots. The negative national attention this received should make it obvious not only to San Francisco, but to community leaders around the country and the globe that this policy was extremely unpopular. We're proud that San Francisco said "no" ...for now. Residents should have protection against killer robots, and we will continue the fight to make sure that happens.
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