Author: Alastair Millar

[> play]
“So that, ladies and gentlemen, is SePPO, the Self-Propelled Public Order system: the bipedal, flexible law enforcement tool for the next century! Do we have any questions?”
“Angus McAndrew, New Tech News. What OS do they run on?”
“The units run on a proprietary AI-rated operating system trained for public order situations. They will identify genuine, repeated threats and subdue them.”
“Could these units kill? Aren’t they just robot soldiers?”
“Absolutely not. They are programmed to subdue not liquidate. Much safer than armed, fallible humans, in our view. Next?”
[|| pause]

“Programming can be changed of course,” noted the Aide drily. The Strategic Planning Director nodded.

[> play]
“Anne Carpenter, TechToday. Can they discriminate between genuine threats and bystanders?”
“Absolutely. They will protect themselves from direct threats, but only subdue persistent threats. For example, falling masonry or even a single thrown missile is a threat to avoid; someone throwing multiple missiles is a threat to be subdued.”
“What about guns?”
“We recognise that in some jurisdictions there is a right to bear arms. If firearms are for example holstered and not being aimed, the units can be programmed not to consider them a threat. Next?”
[|| pause]

“In other words, Director,” said the Aide, “these are half-ton machines with the reflexes of lizards, that can be told to consider anything a potential weapon, and can react to their presence, not just their use.”

[> play]
“Max Mofolo, Sub-Saharan Educational Review. Are they safe to use around schools? Couldn’t they injure kids?”
“Geofencing is used to limit areas of operation. Next?”.
“Syd Jones, GB Republic News. Aren’t their operators a weak link?”
“Not at all. They run through remote aerial or orbital links. So operators are never in danger, and can’t be compromised.”
[|| pause]

“Their promotional material says that they can run on any of the global satnav systems, or via loitering stratospheric drone or high altitude airship. Pretty soon any moderately competent local or national polity will be able to use them.”
“Hmmmm. Okay, I’ve seen enough.”
“The Department’s view is that these are going to be very popular, sir. Obviously they’ll make opposition to the government much more difficult, which in turn will serve to entrench the regulatory status quo, which would be bad for us. Should we manipulate regulators into shutting the manufacturers down? Or attempt sabotage to make the products look unsafe and the companies careless?”
“Good Lord, no. The exact opposite. Have our proxies invest heavily in the companies concerned.”
“Sir?”
“Look, they’re going to work, and will inevitably be adapted for full military use. Cheap soldiers who will obey all orders without question, after all, regardless of laws and irrespective of self-preservation. Which is good news for us.”
The Aide blinked. “I… don’t understand, sir.”
“As the martial artists say, Gillian, ‘use your enemy’s strength against them’. These new systems are all dependent on those comms linkages – for command, control, overrides, defining areas of operation, the lot. None of which will work here on Mars. The more their armed forces come to rely on them, the less likely an effective intervention here will be possible, and the more likely that the Terrans won’t be able to move against our eventual secession.”
“Er… secession, sir? I thought MarsCorp was opposed to the Arean League’s independence campaign? We’ve locked enough of them up!”
“Of course! The League have this ridiculous notion of making us a democracy, of all things. But the Board would prefer us to be independent, and not shackled by Terran politicians…”. He winked. “As long as we’re still in charge.”