15 Jun 2025

Will San Francisco police robots be authorized to kill?

The San Francisco Police Department suggests allowing robots to use deadly force in exceptional situations. The vote on the new equipment policy is scheduled for Nov. 29

San Francisco is currently engaged in a vigorous debate about the rights and capabilities of police robots. The city's Board of Supervisors has received a policy proposal that would give robots the right to kill. Of course, this refers only to exceptional situations when the risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is almost imminent.

 

The SFPD's draft policy on new equipment has sparked resonance for several reasons. Not only does it officially give robots a license to kill suspects, but also excludes information about assault rifles from its inventory of military-style weapons and the maintenance costs of that equipment.

Aaron Peskin, a member of the City Board of Supervisors' Rules Committee, responded to the de facto legalization of murder with a key amendment:

Robots shall not be used as a Use of Force against any person.

However, the police department refused to approve this version of the draft and replaced the amendment with a statement conforming to its interests:

Robots will only be used as a deadly force option when the risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers are imminent and outweigh any other force option available to SFPD.

The adoption of a draft policy with this statement is a serious wake-up call for San Francisco. The robot use-of-force has never been officially banned, but it has not been approved by law, either. 

Though Peskin initially argued against expanding robot powers, he joined the other members of the Rules Committee in approving the latest version of the document. In explaining his position, he referred to the SFPD's reservations and scenarios “where the deployment of lethal force was the only option”.

The new draft policy has not yet been voted on by the Supervisory Board, but it has already encountered growing public opposition from lawyers, journalists, and community leaders. For example, attorney Tifanei Moyer believes that such innovations cannot be accepted as a norm:

We are living in a dystopian future, where we debate whether the police may use robots to execute citizens without a trial, jury, or judge.

To date, the police department has 17 operational robots. Cops use these remote-controlled robots to demilitarize bombs and inspect potentially hazardous areas. 

Police spokesman Robert Rueca states that these robots have never been used to attack anyone. After preliminary simulation training, they, if adopted, will be used to inspect suspicious devices, perform various tasks in urgent and critical situations, and apprehend intruders. Killing the suspect would be the last resort.

The content on The Coinomist is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content. Neither we accept liability for any errors or omissions in the information provided or for any financial losses incurred as a result of relying on this information. Actions based on this content are at your own risk. Always do your own research and consult a professional. See our Terms, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers for more details.

Articles by this author
APS Drops €3M on Tokenized Real Estate in Italy—First-Ever Blockchain Deal

APS Drops €3M on Tokenized Real Estate in Italy—First-Ever Blockchain Deal

With €12B in assets under management, APS just closed its first tokenization deal, snapping up fractional shares of two Italian real estate assets via blockchain.

Anton Kryshtal
Demand for Circle Shares Pushes IPO Valuation to $6.9B

Demand for Circle Shares Pushes IPO Valuation to $6.9B

USDC stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group launches its IPO on the NYSE, increasing the offering to 34 million shares at $31 each and raising around $1.1 billion.

Dmytro Psevdonimenko
Morning Digest: Key News on Ethereum Foundation, JPMorgan & the Fed

Morning Digest: Key News on Ethereum Foundation, JPMorgan & the Fed

JPMorgan weighs Bitcoin ETF-backed lending, Ethereum Foundation updates treasury strategy, Michelle Bowman appointed as Fed overseer. Details in the article.

Dmytro Psevdonimenko
Pakistan to Launch Bitcoin Reserve Using 2,000 MW of Excess Power

Pakistan to Launch Bitcoin Reserve Using 2,000 MW of Excess Power

Islamabad eyes a national Bitcoin reserve powered by 2,000 MW of surplus electricity—framing crypto as a hedge against inflation and macroeconomic volatility.

Anton Kryshtal
From Politics to Protocols: Decoding Eric Trump’s Unexpected Crypto Headlines

From Politics to Protocols: Decoding Eric Trump’s Unexpected Crypto Headlines

Politics continues to move into crypto, and Eric Trump’s involvement sparks debate. What drives his interest?

Daryna Nesterenko
Who Is Tomasz Stańczak? Inside the New Leadership of the Ethereum Foundation

Who Is Tomasz Stańczak? Inside the New Leadership of the Ethereum Foundation

Tomasz Stańczak is one of the co-executive directors at the Ethereum Foundation, contributing to strategic planning and operational oversight to support Ethereum’s long-term growth.

Anahit Avetisyan
Robert Kiyosaki and the Debt-Fueled Prophecy

Robert Kiyosaki and the Debt-Fueled Prophecy

Robert Kiyosaki says the end is here. With $1.2B in U.S. debt and a $1M Bitcoin prediction, the Rich Dad author is turning collapse into his ultimate performance.

Elina Moskovchuk
What Is a DDoS Attack in Crypto? A Guide to Defense in 2025

What Is a DDoS Attack in Crypto? A Guide to Defense in 2025

DDoS attacks remain one of the most serious threats to crypto infrastructure. They can disrupt websites, crypto exchanges, DeFi protocols, and blockchain nodes.

Daryna Nesterenko
Are Crypto IPOs Overhyped? A Closer Look at the Boom

Are Crypto IPOs Overhyped? A Closer Look at the Boom

Crypto IPOs are booming, driven by market optimism and clearer regulations. But are they a sign of industry maturity or just another wave of hype? We take a closer look.

Anahit Avetisyan
What Is Milady? Inside Ethereum’s Most Controversial NFT Cult 

What Is Milady? Inside Ethereum’s Most Controversial NFT Cult 

Milady is a prominent NFT collection often seen as social media profile pictures, but its complex story extends far beyond mere aesthetics.

Anahit Avetisyan
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: What the U.S. Is Really Planning

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: What the U.S. Is Really Planning

In March 2025, the U.S. officially announced a strategic Bitcoin reserve, becoming the first nation to incorporate a digital asset into its national reserve policy.

Vlad Vovk
What Is Aztec Network? 2025 Milestones and the Path to Mainnet

What Is Aztec Network? 2025 Milestones and the Path to Mainnet

Aztec is a privacy network on Ethereum, designed to allow developers to build privacy-focused decentralised applications without compromising transparency.

Anahit Avetisyan
zkEVM Explained: A New Way to Scale Ethereum Without Breaking It

zkEVM Explained: A New Way to Scale Ethereum Without Breaking It

Solving Ethereum’s congestion, zkEVM tech supports native bytecode and familiar dApps — but slashes gas fees, accelerates confirmation, and adds embedded privacy layers.

Vlad Vovk
Bitcoin Price Crashes to $103K After China Ban and Trump’s Threats Roil Markets

Bitcoin Price Crashes to $103K After China Ban and Trump’s Threats Roil Markets

A double blow from China’s crypto crackdown and Trump’s trade threats caused Bitcoin price to plunge to $103K, sparking concern among investors.

Anton Kryshtal
Bitcoin Price Falls to $105K as Traders React to Tariff Confusion and Volatility

Bitcoin Price Falls to $105K as Traders React to Tariff Confusion and Volatility

With uncertainty clouding U.S. tariff rulings and speculative pressure mounting, Bitcoin price retreated to the $105,000 support mark.

Anton Kryshtal
MORE
Crypto Spam Attacks: How to Save Your Deposit and Your Nerves

Crypto Spam Attacks: How to Save Your Deposit and Your Nerves

Unexpected airdrops, shady tokens in your wallet, pushy Discord messages, and weird invites to NFT projects—let’s learn how to stay afloat in a stream of digital noise.

Iaroslava Kramarenko
Why Crypto Trading Isn’t Gambling (Even If It Feels That Way Sometimes)

Why Crypto Trading Isn’t Gambling (Even If It Feels That Way Sometimes)

Is crypto trading just digital gambling? At first glance, the line seems thin. But they’re worlds apart: one relies on analysis and strategy, the other on luck and addiction.

Iaroslava Kramarenko
MORE