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SF SPCA Robot chases away Homeless people instead of helping them
3 min readDec 13, 2017
Disturbing use of #robots by San Francisco SPCA. I like robots but this is just not a good way to use robots.
They claimed that their robot was serving a security function. To prevent homeless people from setting up camp in their area and to reduce crime. Crimes such as breaking into cars, throwing used needles on the streets, etc.
Before this I have thought highly of the SPCA and respected their work. They work hard to help animals in distress. I’m sure that many people have donated to them in the past.
However this new direction by SFSPCA is disturbing on many levels.
This use of a robot and applied to homeless people implies:
- Homeless people may be criminals (or predisposed to commit crime). Being homeless is not a crime. They need help. If they move away from that area, they’ll just go somewhere else (to camp). They don’t disappear.
- Lesser than animals? If SFSPCA consider animals are worth helping, what about homeless people? Are they…