Policies, Regulation, and Legal Perspectives on Social Robots
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Caja Thimm
Abstract
The chapter gives an overview of general principles for policy and lawmaking and introduces measures that have been put into place in selected countries. Taking the example of Europe, policy measures like the AI Act and other preliminary regulation measures like the ‘robot law’ are introduced. The chapter looks at social robots from a contextual point of view, with the main argument being that all social situations with social robots call for some basic policies and principles, although situational parameters apply. Apart from this human user perspective, the role of the robot as a ‘person’ is introduced in order to follow discourses on data ownership, intellectual property rights, and machine ethics. Technological advances like social robots need a global perspective, although lawmaking and policy are, for the most part, under national authority. Legal and regulatory action for social robots poses a particular challenge to international law, such as human rights, national regulation, and, for example, industrial use. It is argued that for further policy and regulatory actions, it is necessary to understand social robots beyond their physical embodiment and put regulations in place that protect human rights and control for data justice and data dignity.
Abstract
The chapter gives an overview of general principles for policy and lawmaking and introduces measures that have been put into place in selected countries. Taking the example of Europe, policy measures like the AI Act and other preliminary regulation measures like the ‘robot law’ are introduced. The chapter looks at social robots from a contextual point of view, with the main argument being that all social situations with social robots call for some basic policies and principles, although situational parameters apply. Apart from this human user perspective, the role of the robot as a ‘person’ is introduced in order to follow discourses on data ownership, intellectual property rights, and machine ethics. Technological advances like social robots need a global perspective, although lawmaking and policy are, for the most part, under national authority. Legal and regulatory action for social robots poses a particular challenge to international law, such as human rights, national regulation, and, for example, industrial use. It is argued that for further policy and regulatory actions, it is necessary to understand social robots beyond their physical embodiment and put regulations in place that protect human rights and control for data justice and data dignity.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
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Section 1: Robots in Culture and Society
- Future Presence: Living with Social Robots 21
- Representing Robots in Popular Culture 47
- Designing Robots That are Accepted in Human Social Environments: Anthropomorphism, the Intentional Stance, Cultural Norms and Values, and Societal Implications 63
- Are Robotic Bodies (Part of) Social Bodies? 85
- Persons or Things: The Role of Robots in Society 105
- Automated Masspersonal Social Engineering 119
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Section 2: Humanistic and Social Scientific Perspectives
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Linguistics
- AI and Human Writing: Collaboration or Appropriation? 137
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Law
- Policies, Regulation, and Legal Perspectives on Social Robots 161
- How Social Robots Affect Privacy: Navigating the Landscape 179
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Sociology
- Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and the Evolution of the Social Sciences 203
- Human Interactions With (Embodied) AI: The Future of Authenticity in Human–AI Relation(ship)s 221
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Psychology and Neuroscience
- Mind Perception During and After Interacting with Artificial Agents 241
- How People Perceive Social Robots: The Case of Gender 261
- Relating with Social Robots: Issues of Sex, Love, Intimacy, Emotion, Attachment, and Companionship 277
- Real or Pretend? How Children Ontologize Social Robots as Mental and Moral Others 295
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Communication and Computer Sciences
- Rethinking Communication between Humans and Social Robots 313
- Interacting with Social Robots: The Influence of their Distinctive Cues, Behavioral Capabilities, and Affordances on Social Interaction and Well-being 335
- Integrating Big-Data Tools to Study AI and Human–Machine Communication: Methodology Strengths, Future Directions, and Applications 355
- Social Robots and Children: A Field in Development 371
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Section 3: Contexts of Human–Robot Interaction
- Anthropomorphizing Voice Assistants: A Research Agenda for Human–AI Relationships 391
- Domestic Appliances and Household Robots: The Changing Landscape of Housework and Family 411
- Ability and Disability: Social Robots and Accessibility, Disability Justice, and the Socially Constructed Normal Body 429
- Growing Old Together: The Promise and Challenge of Social Robots for Older Adults 447
- Power and Synchrony in Human Collaboration with Exoskeletons 467
- Index 489
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
-
Section 1: Robots in Culture and Society
- Future Presence: Living with Social Robots 21
- Representing Robots in Popular Culture 47
- Designing Robots That are Accepted in Human Social Environments: Anthropomorphism, the Intentional Stance, Cultural Norms and Values, and Societal Implications 63
- Are Robotic Bodies (Part of) Social Bodies? 85
- Persons or Things: The Role of Robots in Society 105
- Automated Masspersonal Social Engineering 119
-
Section 2: Humanistic and Social Scientific Perspectives
-
Linguistics
- AI and Human Writing: Collaboration or Appropriation? 137
-
Law
- Policies, Regulation, and Legal Perspectives on Social Robots 161
- How Social Robots Affect Privacy: Navigating the Landscape 179
-
Sociology
- Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and the Evolution of the Social Sciences 203
- Human Interactions With (Embodied) AI: The Future of Authenticity in Human–AI Relation(ship)s 221
-
Psychology and Neuroscience
- Mind Perception During and After Interacting with Artificial Agents 241
- How People Perceive Social Robots: The Case of Gender 261
- Relating with Social Robots: Issues of Sex, Love, Intimacy, Emotion, Attachment, and Companionship 277
- Real or Pretend? How Children Ontologize Social Robots as Mental and Moral Others 295
-
Communication and Computer Sciences
- Rethinking Communication between Humans and Social Robots 313
- Interacting with Social Robots: The Influence of their Distinctive Cues, Behavioral Capabilities, and Affordances on Social Interaction and Well-being 335
- Integrating Big-Data Tools to Study AI and Human–Machine Communication: Methodology Strengths, Future Directions, and Applications 355
- Social Robots and Children: A Field in Development 371
-
Section 3: Contexts of Human–Robot Interaction
- Anthropomorphizing Voice Assistants: A Research Agenda for Human–AI Relationships 391
- Domestic Appliances and Household Robots: The Changing Landscape of Housework and Family 411
- Ability and Disability: Social Robots and Accessibility, Disability Justice, and the Socially Constructed Normal Body 429
- Growing Old Together: The Promise and Challenge of Social Robots for Older Adults 447
- Power and Synchrony in Human Collaboration with Exoskeletons 467
- Index 489
