On the mid of September, a Massachusetts lawmakers duo introduced a bill in order “to guarantee the responsible use of advanced robotic technologies.” The legislation proposes that it would bar the manufacture, sale, and usage of weaponized robots, marking an important step in addressing the increasing concerns about the lack of state and national laws governing advanced robotic technologies. The bill also seeks to prevent regular people from weaponizing robots, without impacting their current beneficial uses in law enforcement and various other applications.
The endeavor to regulate weaponized robots has become imperative with the rapid advancement of such technologies, previously only seen in science fiction. The United States has used armed robots, or drones, for more than 20 years to kill people, raising moral and ethical concerns. The use of robots for such purposes has always been interpreted differently when it comes to law enforcement, as seen with controversial instances such as the Dallas Police Department using a bomb disposal robot to kill a suspect in 2016. The potential harmful effects and ethical questions raised by weaponized robots have propelled the need for the proposed bill.
The proposed bill has been prompted by alarming instances, such as MSCHF’s mounting of a paintball gun on a Spot to make a point and images of Ghost Robots with sniper rifles. Boston Dynamics and four other robotics companies voiced their condemnation against the weaponization of general-purpose robots, highlighting new risks of harm and raising serious ethical questions. The bill has undergone a hearing and technical review, and is currently being discussed with various stakeholders, including robotics companies and law enforcement.
The bill does not intend to obstruct law enforcement from using robots but rather requires them to obtain warrants for their use in the absence of an emergency, in line with the existing protocols. The legislation has not faced any opposition and is aimed at ensuring that robots are used for the benefits they bring to society, without being misused or weaponized. Massachusetts’s position as a leading robotics hub has driven the state to take the lead in addressing these concerns, aiming to set a standard for the responsible deployment of advanced robotic technologies. The proposed legislation shows a proactive approach to anticipate problems before they arise, and is a step toward ensuring that robotics innovation continues in a safe and ethical manner.
