Robot Police Officer Goes On Duty In Dubai (bbc.com)

The first robot officer has joined the Dubai Police force tasked with patrolling the city's malls and tourist attractions. "People will be able to use it to report crimes, pay fines and get information by tapping a touchscreen on its chest," reports BBC. "Data collected by the robot will also be shared with the transport and traffic authorities." From the report: The government said the aim was for 25% of the force to be robotic by 2030 but they would not replace humans. "We are not going to replace our police officers with this tool," said Brig Khalid Al Razooqi, director general of smart services at Dubai Police. "But with the number of people in Dubai increasing, we want to relocate police officers so they work in the right areas and can concentrate on providing a safe city. "Most people visit police stations or customer service, but with this tool we can reach the public 24/7. It can protect people from crime because it can broadcast what is happening right away to our command and control center."

Comments

I notice everytime something gets automated

[rsilvergun]

within 3 sentences I'll read "will not replace humans" or some variations thereof. Does anyone really believe that?

Re:I notice everytime something gets automated

[sexconker]

Does anyone believe anything a corporation or government it says it will not do?

If public concern over X multiplied by corporate/government temptation to do X exceeds some threshold Y, then the following will happen:
  - The corporation/government will issue a statement saying they won't do X.
  - The corporation/government will quietly/gradually/eventually/flagrantly do X anyway.

You may as well cry out "Swiper, no swiping!".

I know where this is going.

[Gravis Zero]

It's a good idea in concept but reality has a habit of getting in the way.

Just wait until they're armed

[Baron_Yam]

I imagine a few robots with electrified surfaces and maybe a microwave area denial device would be considered great for crowd control in certain countries. If the power requirements could be met, put a tetanizing beam weapon on them. Just have them roll down the streets after curfew and torture anyone found outside... while also recording their faces for human follow-up. Have them 'shout' orders in a loud, slightly distorted voice to frighten people and encourage compliance.

And from there it isn't a huge leap to adding lethal weaponry to defend the robot if dissidents are inclined to destroy them (which they will be). And then will come the robots just killing from the start.

Imagine what a ruthless dictator could do with such devices; no worries about loyalty, no fears the machines won't fire on 'their own people' if ordered to do so. Nobody would even think of trying to argue with them - they're machines, a mindless force. Make people carry ID cards, and if you don't present them for scanning when challenged, you get tased if you move, maybe shot if you get out of taser range, to keep you around while the human thugs come to check up.

Of course (at least for a while) stairs will be their greatest enemy. Or maybe a hat hung over the optics.

Re:I'd like to say I don't understand why

[chuckugly]

The electoral college is supposed to give the states a voice and make the election more than a mere popularity contest; do they not teach civics at all any more? Each congressional district gets an elector, or to look at it another way, the total of electors for a state is the number of senators plus the number of house reps. It's the same reason we have a bicameral system of legislation with one house having a representation of the populace and the other giving all states an equal voice.