Reality demands it: New Zealand police want to equip robots with battle rifles
October 18, 2022
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What kind of weapon is this? In 2021, Oakland police received a “pulse non-electric destroyer” or PAN destroyer. In short, a robot that can carry semi-lethal weapons. It
What kind of weapon is this?
In 2021, Oakland police received a “pulse non-electric destroyer” or PAN destroyer. In short, a robot that can carry semi-lethal weapons. It is more often used in combat zones, especially for mine clearance, but the scope of application of such a robot is quite wide.
The weapons that the robot can carry can be filled with empty cartridges, water cannons and live bullets when necessary. It was the final moment that confused the Oakland community. After all, the police can at any moment turn such robots into a murder weapon and use them against civilians – the only question is the adequacy of the justification for such a decision.
One can imagine a seemingly plausible application for this particular tool. With little change, or even just different types of ammunition, these vehicles can easily be used as weapons against democratic opposition. – said Liz O’Sullivan, CEO of the Parity initiative.
Remotec Adros Mark V-A1 robot / Photo EPA/DAMIAN BERG/NAVY
When asked at a subcommittee meeting in 2021 if they planned to put real ammunition on the vehicle, the Oakland Police Department initially said no. But during the development of the rules of use, the department changed its position.
This caused a lot of controversy, with Oakland police promising to use “death machines” only when necessary during “certain high-risk, high-risk, high-mass casualty disaster events.”
problem of law
In New Zealand, there is no legislation or interpretation governing the use of such a technique, so ultimately it all comes down to police department interpretation.
The local government has already formed a subcommittee to deal with the situation. So far, it has adopted language that forbids the use of such robots to kill people, but this has not fully satisfied the public. Police are still allowed to weaponize such equipment with pepper spray.
We will not be arming robots with deadly ammunition anytime soon. When that time comes, each event will be evaluated before this distribution, – said the representative of the police, Lieutenant Daza-Kiros in an interview with The Intercept.
As Auckland Police is not the only department in the country pushing for PAN, it is likely that such a wave of state-level debate and debate will engulf New Zealand and lead to changes in the law in the near future. side, is currently unknown.
Alice Smith is a seasoned journalist and writer for Div Bracket. She has a keen sense of what’s important and is always on top of the latest trends. Alice provides in-depth coverage of the most talked-about news stories, delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles that keep her readers informed and engaged.