Automation is Replacing Police and Workers
Scales of Justice in a Civil Case
Legal experts and civil rights lawyers are in a quandary over the legality of the utilization of a robot bomb used in killing the Dallas gunman responsible for police deaths and injuries. The gunman was a black racist, and supporter of Black Lives Matter. He shot 12 police officers. He left five dead, and others critically wounded. A tense standoff ensued with police attempting to negotiate with gunman Thursday night. President Obama immediately blamed lawful gun ownership and ignored his part in insinuating police mistreated blacks, stoking the flames of racist retaliation.
Police realized with negotiations breaking down there was no way for them to rush the alleged gunman without further risk of life or more wounded police officers. The choice police made to use a novel approach of sending a robot into the building to the gunman’s location. Consequently, the robot was armed with explosives used to end the shooter’s life. Some legal experts believe this was not just an unprecedented move it may have been unlawful.
The early Friday morning standoff with suspect Micah X. Johnson City Officials said the standoff ended after exchanging sporadic fire with Johnson they detonated a the robotic incendiary device near Johnson. The Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College in 2015 compiled a report that found local, state and federal law enforcement agencies purchased explosive ordnance disposal robots using the Pentagon’s 1033 program. This program is designed to allow these agencies to buy excess military equipment.
Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings said at a Friday press briefing a bomb robot was used to detonate in the vicinity of the subject. Any other options would have exposed police officers to danger.
Legal Experts Opinions
University of Washington assistant professor of law Ryan Calo studies the law and technology. The professor stated he believes the use of the device by the Dallas police was lawful in the lethal force. He said he thought what the Dallas police did under the circumstances was completely legal. The extreme threat by the suspect justified the use of deadly force. Calo went on to say there is no law requiring police officers to put their selves in harm’s way to neutralize a dangerous person. The professor said it is a different tactic than is used.
Rick Nelson, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, commented saying removing police from the use of force and its consequences makes it easier to use this kind of power. Nelson went on to state it is what we have done with drones in warfare.
Georgetown University Law Center and senior fellow at New America Foundation Rosa Brooks said the constitutional calculus does not change with the methods used to neutralize a suspect. Brooks went on to say there was nothing unprecedented or unique in the device the police utilized for a suspect posing an imminent threat.
Prior Robotic Device Use
However, this is not the first time authorities have used a robot in standoffs; one was used in Prince George County when police attached a water cannon to a robot. In 1993 authorities used the robot and water cannon to disable an armed suspect who was hiding in a closet. California Highway Patrol in 2014 used a robotic device to deliver pizza and a phone in a situation where a man was threatening to kill himself by diving off of a highway overpass. In these cases, the robotic device was not used as it was in the Dallas Friday night standoff using lethal force.
Automation is the future. For example, when the government interferes with private contracts for entry level jobs, businesses will use robots. Forcing a fast food place to pay low-level burger flippers $15.00 per hour will lead to mass unemployment. So in addition to using robots as cops, entry level jobs will soon be a thing of the past. Kids needing to learn basic job skills will now head for the welfare office. This will benefit politicians who rely upon votes from poor people.
Using robots will eventually mean only a few people will have wealth. It also implies that artificial intelligence will increasingly be used to decide hostage and shooter situations. Consequently, this precedent is spurred on every time politicians try and target businesses on behalf of low information voters. The bomb robot is a symptom of this trend.
