# Developing policies for cops using robots with lethal force

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2022-12-09
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-12-09-developing-policies-for-cops-using-robots-with-lethal-force
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/developing-policies-about-police-and-robots-with-lethal-force

## Summary

Paul Scharre, Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' controversial vote to allow police to use robots with lethal force, which was subsequently reversed. Scharre argues that the proposal is flawed because it ignores the primary benefit of robotics—creating physical separation to enable non-lethal de-escalation—and criticizes the hasty legislative process for lacking stakeholder input. He contrasts this with the Department of Defense's 2012 policy on autonomy, emphasizing that the San Francisco robots are fully remote-controlled with no autonomy, yet still raise significant ethical and psychological concerns for operators.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-12-09-developing-policies-for-cops-using-robots-with-lethal-force#t=7) Introduction: San Francisco Robot Policy and Paul Scharre
- [5:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-12-09-developing-policies-for-cops-using-robots-with-lethal-force#t=321) Scharre's Background: DOD Autonomy Policy and Military Robotics
- [13:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-12-09-developing-policies-for-cops-using-robots-with-lethal-force#t=780) Clarifying Autonomy: Remote Control vs. Autonomous Decision Making
- [16:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-12-09-developing-policies-for-cops-using-robots-with-lethal-force#t=980) Critique of San Francisco Proposal: Lethal Force vs. Non-Lethal Options
- [19:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-12-09-developing-policies-for-cops-using-robots-with-lethal-force#t=1179) Process Failure: Lack of Stakeholder Engagement and Rushed Legislation
- [24:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-12-09-developing-policies-for-cops-using-robots-with-lethal-force#t=1457) The Dallas 2016 Incident: A Case Study in Poor Robot Utilization
- [34:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-12-09-developing-policies-for-cops-using-robots-with-lethal-force#t=2046) Psychological Impact: Physical vs. Psychological Distance for Operators
- [40:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-12-09-developing-policies-for-cops-using-robots-with-lethal-force#t=2421) Role of the Robotics Industry in Policy Development

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Center for a New American Security (company)
- Department of Defense (company)
- San Francisco Board of Supervisors (company)
- Dallas Police Department (company)
- Project Maven (other)
- Robotics Summit (other)

## Citing this page

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