A European Parliament committee will look Thursday (12 January) at a draft resolution relating to the regulation of robotics. The text could become the basis for the first European legislation on automation and robots, EurActiv Germany reports.
American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov introduced The Three Laws of Robotic in his 1942 short story, Runaround, which state:
(1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
(2) A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
(3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
(0) (later added) A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.
(See Runabout, I. Asimov, 1943)
Some 70 years later, Asimov’s Laws are forming the principles of a draft resolution that is being looked at by the European Parliament. The report in question is not a legislative initiative, rather it is a set of recommendations to be sent to the European Commission, asking the executive to draw up a legal framework for the civilian use of robots.
In addition to ethical issues, liability risks and other dangers that humans could face, EU politicians will also be looking at the potential changes that could be forced on the world of work as automation becomes more prevalent.
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Source: EurActiv.com