The terror in the first scenario is not a product of the robots themselves, but the existence of a democratically unrestrained power in full command of the machines.
I hate to sound so single minded, but this is just one more reason to opposed gerrymandering, closed primaries, restricted access to the polls, private campaign finance, and the revolving door between government regulators and their charges in private industry. Every one of these acts as a wedge between government power and accountability to the people. Individually, they're bad. When they all start working together, the rot really starts to accelerate.
By the time the RoboCops are announcing that you've got 20 seconds to comply, it's because we've lost any way to dislodge their operators.
I hate to sound so single minded, but this is just one more reason to opposed gerrymandering, closed primaries, restricted access to the polls, private campaign finance, and the revolving door between government regulators and their charges in private industry. Every one of these acts as a wedge between government power and accountability to the people. Individually, they're bad. When they all start working together, the rot really starts to accelerate.
By the time the RoboCops are announcing that you've got 20 seconds to comply, it's because we've lost any way to dislodge their operators.