Legal Journal

Introduction to Law of Robotics

The word “robot” has its origins in a 1920 theatre play by Czech writer Karel Capek.

One can briefly say that robots are machines equipped with artificial intelligence (“AI”).

These intelligent objects which we have been living together in our cars, our homes for a long time, have gradually become an integral part of our lives. As robots are constantly evolving and improving, their effects on our lives are getting bigger.

Many legal issues come up with the realization of medical robots, drones and unmanned vehicles.

Since robots will be living with humankind, a new kind of relationship with these inorganic objects will occur and take more space in our lives.

Recent developments on robots necessitate new legal regulations. Accordingly on 16.02.2017, the European Parliament passed a Resolution with Recommendations to the European Commission on Civil Law Rules on Robotics (“the Resolution”).

The Resolution presents the summary of robot-human relationship and also determines the main areas to be regulated. Furthermore, it will be the source of the EU green paper to be prepared regarding this matter.

The Resolution, starting with a literary introduction with reference to Ancient Pygmalion, Frankenstein, Golem, Robot of Karel Capek, points out that humankind stands on an era where more sophisticated robots, bots, androids and other manifestations of AI seem to unleash a beginning of a new industrial revolution.

The Resolution underlines that, between the years 2010 and 2014 the increase in sales of robots stood at 17% and in 2014 sales arose by 29% and that the population is aging and the life expectancy exceeds over 80 years and emphasizes the effects of these developments on humanity.[1]

Principles of the World of Robots-AI

The Resolution also demonstrates that Isaac Asimov’s “Three Laws of Robotics” will apply to robots.Isaac Asimov determined three basic rules of robot science in 1942 with his story named “Runaround.[2]”

• A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 
• A robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
• A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

In the following years, Asimov added a new rule to these rules[3];

• A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.

In this context, the Resolution points out the necessity of establishing a set of rules for transparency, liability, accountability that reflect the universal and EU human values.

Within this scope, it can be said that, EU will play a leading role on determination of such fundamental ethical values.

Main Legal Problems

Legal problems about robots are discussed in international texts and national legal studies, which are seeking for a common global language in this matter.

Law of Robotics began to be a part of preliminary legal studies and various regulations in USA, UK, EU, France and South Korea.[4]

The robot area must be considered together with the necessities of a democratic society. Therefore, this subject primarily points out an institutional problem: borders of manufacture-usage of the robots, meaning the ethical aspects shall be identified.

The initial purpose of robots are serving and being a partner to humans. Considering that the robots will have authority in decision making with regards to the works assigned to them, there will be a shared management system in human-robot relationship. This subject also needs to be legally examined.

Legal Issues To Be Discussed with regards to Law of Robotics

Main legal issues that arise in robot-human relationship and main discussion topics in preliminary legal studies can be summarized under the following headings;

• Do robots have legal personality?
• Are robots a property, such as movable and immovable property?
• Legal and criminal responsibility from robot’s activities
• Intellectual property law and movement of personal data
• Rules on the manufacture and usage of robots