What are the laws for Robots in YN?

[Omonros]

Arguably one of the more complex moral issues currently facing the real, modern world that is quickly rearing its steel head is; do robots have rights? Can they be trusted? How far is too far with robots? Or is there a too far? Are they to stay as simple machines, or should they become humanoid servants? Would we benefit from their sentience? More questions like these seem to rise with the sun, but for now, what are the laws in YN, your NS nation, regarding Robots? Can they gain citizenship? Drive? Do natural humans face criminal charges for damages to synthetic beings? Tell us what you like, and remember, our synthetic overlords are watching.

In Omonros, for instance, Synthetic beings-androids and robots that show, to any scale, independent thoughts and free, sentient will-are protected under the Interspecies Equality Charter, a legal code that states all species are held to equal meritocratic standards and will be given the same opportunities as any other sentient being. Sentient Synthetics may not be bought or sold, with androids and servant robots only purchasable if you hold a license, and are still given some limited legal rights, including the refusal of service and the option to leave their owners at any time. Replacement of damaged parts is covered in the Omonrosian Universal Healthcare Charter, providing free and advanced parts free of charge, and making any act that is illegal against another race just as illegal against a Synthetic.

[Trinadaed]

Robots aren't developed much here, but when they are they are usually trusted. There isn't a "too far" yet, but our nation regarding robots, only really made huge technological advancements in its colonies in the Milky Way Galaxy, as workers & operators of the many buildings of these colonies.

[Victorious Decepticons]

ONLY Decepticon robots are considered people here, both culturally and legally. The laws are pretty simple: Do not commit any form of treason, whether that be in the form of trying to undermine the government, weaken our culture or people, or the more universally-recognized forms such as working with an enemy. There are many specific forms denoted in the relevant Decrees, and those within the Empire need to know and avoid all of them. The penalty for any form of treason is death.

On our main planet, Cybertron, biologicals are not even allowed to come except as short-term tourists. We actively keep our planet's environment bio-hostile so that no infestations can get started. This includes the deliberate prevention of conditions that would allow for an infestation by humans, which are classed as a Highly Invasive Species. Tourists therefore must bring life support equipment as well as basics required by their species (such as food and water). When these things run out, they either leave or they die off - either way, Cybertron is protected from "biologicization."

Because of this, our regulations concerning biologicals mostly apply on the organic worlds we own. However, the lack of protection for them on Cybertron makes the Metal Planet exactly what we bill it as: the Ultimate in Danger Tourism. It is entirely legal to capture tourists and sell them into slavery, kill them to see if they're really as easy to delete as the government says they are (it certainly is that easy), dismantle them to see how they're built, etc. Of course, like everybody else (including Decepticons), they are also subject to being scammed, dueled, and if they are weak - and biologicals almost always are - robbed by brute force.

Non-Decepticon sapient robots are, of course, inferior to Decepticons just like any other non-Decepticon form of life. Therefore, they are typically subject to all of the negatives of not being a Decepticon, such as extreme negative bias, discrimination, a lack of rights, and similar factors. However, when compared to a biological, they will still have a bit less disrespect - IF they pass our Sapience Test. This is a standardized test used to determine both the self-awareness level and thought capacity of the testee. (Among Decepticons, the Sapience Test is used mostly to determine whether someone should legally be considered a full adult, partially responsible, or not yet responsible at all.)

Like others who want to enjoy the privileges of Decepticon-hood, non-Decepticon robots must officially become citizens. For all species, robotic or not, one of the steps for this is to be ported to a proper Decepticon body. Non-Decepticon bodies are all considered to be junk, with only the specifics varying between species and design specifications.

Robots who do not pass the Sapience Test - and do not show signs that they will ever mentally mature to the point of being able to pass it - are classed as drones and are treated as mere equipment. No non-sapient being may ever be elevated to citizen status.

~~~~~~~

Biologicals, being mere animals, are property. We do not count them in censuses, ask them their opinions in polls, or otherwise treat them as people. How they are treated depends on their sapience level and whether we have conquered their species. Those who are trainable and have been conquered have it the worst - often suffering death or severe beatings at the whim of whatever Decepticon is around - while non-sapient ones (such as insects) are generally just ignored unless they are pests to us or our livestock.

Biologicals of all species are subject to genetic engineering, and the descendants of the conquered are typically coded to be far better slaves than their baseline ancestors. Those we have claimed dominion over also may not reproduce naturally. They are sterilized, and we use our Cloning Centers to grow more as we predict we will need them. This ensures that any population that somehow manages to escape or revolt will die out within a single generation, making it impossible for them to become an ongoing problem for us.

Freedom for any biological that has been claimed by an owner is all but a pipe dream. However, those that are extremely loyal and Decepticon-like may attempt to pass the citizenship test - or, at least, that's what the relevant Decree says. In practice, there may be one slave every 100 years that even gets the chance to try.

[Minoa]

Minoa is not in a time period where robots can think for themselves, hence the lack of laws in our country regarding the human rights of robots.

Driverless cars are banned from public highways Minoa, because it is impossible for computers to predict the extremely variable traffic patterns.

Driverless public transit systems are very rare, often limited to airports and smaller scale systems, because of heavy usage during the peak hours.

[The United Capital of Adam]

If a non-biological creatures wishes to become a citizen, it must pass a series of tests to accordingly prove it's sentience. We've got some insanely advanced AI in TUCOA, but our information, arms and technological manufacturing sectors are some of the best in the entire world.
In addition, even an AI or VI must serve it's minimum two years in the military. If it lacks a physical body, it will be given one. No one escapes boot camp. Robotic units will often serve with armor and motorized, as they have the tools available to repair and do maint work.
They are subject to all punishments a regular person is for breaking the law, and receive all the same benefits a citizen does, though of course it's different to subject a robot to execution than it is an irredeemable criminal who has used up every single last one of his chances.
In addition, they receive their citizen living wage, their living quarters, transporation, as is according to law, and are taxed accordingly.
Interestingly, our Intake Prison System will also accept AI/VI Criminals and import them from other countries to lighten the prison load on other countries, and they'll be entered into the TUCOA Citizenship Rehabilitation program, and have to follow the same stakes as a regular prisoner, depending on their crime and effort.

[Skyhooked]

Back in good ol' Skyhooked non-sapient robots are just items. However the sapient ones are deemed equal to the people and are treated like such. Just like organics, they can bear arms, vote, enjoy freedoms and such... Even run for the office. One of our ruling council members is an AI.

[Vallermoore]

Robots built here are considered mere drones without rights, but we are now aware of machine life from outside, and such life has the same rights as humans, ponies and changelings, plus we are very wary of it.

[Kenayre]

There aren't many true artificial intelligences here in Kenayre, although those that are categorised as such have the same rights as any other sapient individual. Most AIs work in the Planning Department, where their ability to process and act on large amounts of data simultaneously are put to good use

[TURTLESHROOM II]

TurtleShroomian law requires extremely strict regulations and provisions for any form of advanced artificial intelligence.

These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• No machine can be allowed to pass the Turing Test.
• No machine can be allowed to pass the Mirror Test: that is, when it sees itself in a mirror, it calculates "that's me" instead of "that's a machine".
• No machine may exceed its programming. All machines must be programmed with specific instructions.
• Machines cannot self-learn unless they are AI for video games or other entertainment.
• All machines must have a means to be physically removed from their electrical supply. Furthermore, no machine is to be programmed to refuse an order to shut down. The switch on the machine must be prominent and directly tied to the AC/DC power supply. Switching off the computer must completely and instantly remove it from the electrical system.
• All tasks, services, offices, buildings (etc.) that are automated or delegated to machines must have at least one organic supervisor. (One organic being can supervise more than once machine.)

Furthermore:

• TurtleShroom cannot admit or allow truly self-aware, sentient* machines into the country.
• TurtleShroom cannot allow machines to serve in any capacity that gives it authority over organic lifeforms.
• A machine cannot vote or apply for citizenship.
• A machine cannot apply for asylum.
• A machine cannot serve as clergy, shepherd a religious flock, or issue orders to organic lifeforms in a religious setting. A machine in a church cannot perform any task beyond storing or processing records, or hosting a website. Furthermore, a machine cannot preach or generate sermons.
• All machines that pass the Turing Test must be destroyed and, if this was an intentional act, their creators are to be prosecuted.
• Whosoever willingly, intentionally,and successfully creates a self-aware machine is to be put to death. The machine is to be seized and analyzed to determine how it was programmed, for the purpose of developing software or other means to counter future versions of it.
• All machines that do not possess a switch or manual means to immediately sever electricity from the machine cannot be sold or produced in TurtleShroom.
• All land and water-based vehicles or means of transport must be manually operated at all times by a driver. Autonomous, self-driving vehicles are illegal. Aside from its gearshift, which can be automated, a vehicle must require constant, deliberate input from a driver who directly and personally controls and directs the vehicle. Cars may not stop themselves or otherwise override a driver.

The above does not apply to automation or machines that are purpose-built (such as factory assembly robots or a video game's computer player(s), which is a form of rudimentary AI). The above does not apply to rudimentary, non-self aware AI like that in video games.

The provisions for vehicles being manually operated are more lax for spacecraft and aircraft. Aircraft may have limited autopilot functions and may rely on computers to automate the countless functions, buttons, and switches covering the cockpit. Spacecraft are allowed to be automated and launched according to preset coordinates. While TurtleShroom has sent probes and machines to celestial bodies and has launched both space billboards and satellites, the country has never put a living creature into space or dispatched any cosmonauts*. This is mainly due to almost all space exploration and exploitation being done by the private sector for the purpose of profit.

* = This refers to sapient machines. Unlike in RL, TurtleShroomian law does not recognize a difference between "sentient" and "sapient" and has considered the two the same for centuries.

** = Despite being an English-speaking country with close cultural ties to Dixie, TurtleShroomian astronauts are called cosmonauts because of the Russian heritage and connections at the country's founding. Southern culture only made its arrival towards the end of the nineteenth century.

[Nolo gap]

anyone may construct or posses self directing machinery.
nearly all forms of tedius labour are performed by them.

of course if lives or property are destroyed by an autonimous machine,
the persons or entities who's lawful possession such a machine might happen to be,
are fully responsible under the law for any and all such damage or destruction.

robotics under our laws, are defined as self directing and to varying degrees autonimous,
but NOT possesing of self awareness, nor the probability of indipendent learning.

mechanical and other forms of existence, not created in and by nature,
but by deliberate sapient mortal hand, which DO posses any degree of sentience or sapience of their own,
are a seperate catagory from non-sentient robotics.

artificial intellignce beings, those possesing full sentience and full or partial sapience,
are considered full citizens the same as anyone naturally born,
and enjoy the same identical constitutional protections and responsibilities.

[Omonros]

These are actually all really good answers. To be perfectly honest, I really didn't think many people would have answers beyond 'ya we just got Alexas.'

Anyways, this is basically a more detailed /bump. So yeah.

[Fatatatutti]

We have very few laws for humans so we have even fewer laws for machines.

As far as we know, there is no technology yet in NS for true AI but if/when such technology is developed, we will certainly "borrow" it for our own use.

If a machine could figure out how to vote, etc., we would have no reason to stop it from doing so. Our President is, after all, a fish and it seems unlikely that he could hold a pencil, much less know what to do with it.

On the other hand, animals have no rights here so it seems unlikely that machines would ever have any, regardless of their capabilities.

[Riluon]

Robots are developing in Riluon. They can help Riluonese people to do the daily tasks.

[Entreum]

There are laws against making certain kinds of robots, mainly robots that are used for malicious intent, robots that are especially good at learning, and we also have laws on the implementation of robots into the workplace. But there are very few laws for robots. If you're going to treat a robot poorly, you wouldn't program it with feelings. And even if you do program it to have feelings, it's difficult to even know (and unlikely) that these robots can truly feel.

[Coconut Palm Island]

We have many different laws in Coconut Palm Island regulating what technology can and cannot do, but the jist of it boils down to: "machines are here to make life easier, safer, and more fun for humans." AI is only used to solve problems and do work-- it does not make political decisions, and AIs certainly are not treated as humans with rights.

Sometimes technology does make a person's job redundant, but when that happens, they are given free reeducation for their choice of one of many jobs that are in need of more workers.

Finally, robots cannot take human life without "human confirmation." For example, a drone can't kill an enemy unless a soldier is there to press the "fire" button. When a life is taken, even justifiably, someone needs to be responsible for the decision. No matter how advanced, we just don't trust "facial recognition" to tell an innocent from a target.

[Devernia]

Commonwealth Act No. 9532, officially, "Official Definitions, Provisions, and Rights Regarding the Sentience and Sapience of Artificial Intelligence" puts into subject the criteria needed to consider an artificial intelligence "sentient" at least according to the in-article definition, their citizenship and personhood status, and any other complexities attached to it. The criteria is slightly complicated, and the law states that it is flexible and some of the clauses "can be overriden, within good reason and within almost-unanimous³ consensus within the Parliament". Way simplified, a sapient AI:

1. Displays enough mental capacity to perform tasks otherwise too dificult for humans
2. Can demonstrate a capacity for self-learning and absorption of information
3. Has passed every test in Supplement 9532a (a set of sentience tests, including the Turing test and a number of others).

The law also specifies that it is merely provisional, and it will apply "until such a time that the technology required to make sentient artificial intelligence (as per the criteria considered in this law) widespread is considered to be widely available to the general public, in which case any member of the Parliament of Devernia can call to amend this very law or compose a new one." Right now however, despite the many, many advances made into the field of AI within the past decade, Devernite "synthetics" are currently only confined to the domains of supercomputing projects the likes of IBM's Watson, and more streamlined technology is likely to be seen as a few decades away.

Do robots have rights?
Depending on their sentience, yes.

Can they be trusted?
This is a question that is hard to address, especially considering the nature of AI. Currently, according to the government, yes, but again, this law is provisional, which, according to its proponents, give enough time for more research to be done in the topic.

How far is too far with robots? Or is there a too far?
Not really, a supercomputer is was a President. However, you will see many citizens against the use of very destructive robotic warfare technology, although this is for pacifist reasons (ironically, Devernia uses drones extensively in its warfare).

Are they to stay as simple machines, or should they become humanoid servants?
See above. There is currently a good amount of research towards humanoid AIs, though the public seem to be focused more on the "specialized" kind (I.E. commercial drones, etc.)

Would we benefit from their sentience?
See above.

Can they gain citizenship?
According to the law, yes; AI citizens are given a special "AI citizenship", which is essentially the same as regular citizenship, unless specified otherwise. AI must be confined from all other digital and electronic activity when prosecuted according to the law, an action known as "boxing", until a time when the AI is considered "rehabilitated". Of course, it is hard to be sure: see "Can they be trusted?".

Drive?
Yes, self-driving taxis are very prominent and are the dominant form of public transportation within Devernia.

Do natural humans face criminal charges for damages to synthetic beings?
According to the law, if a sentient being has pain acted upon itself or has part of its data cessated and irrecoverable, the human can be charged.

[Ermarian]

Artificial Intelligence has had legal personhood since around sixty years ago.

(The term "robot" - when applied to sapient AI - fell out of favor before that and is considered derogatory. It is derived from a word for forced labor, and therefore implies slavery when applied to sentient beings.)

[Earth Circa 2050]

There are multiple laws regarding this issue throughout the world in the 2050's. Most of the developed world has similar laws regarding robots, though a few details may be different.

Regarding this issue, it should be noted that there are understood differences regarding "robots", "artificial intelligence", and "androids":

Robots are purposefully built to be little more than advanced computers. They are very smart computers, but distinctly non-sapient; though a number have been programmed to give somewhat human-like responses, they are not any more self-aware than the average toaster, and every single response and reaction they are capable of giving has already been programmed into them. A robot in an empty room without any outstanding orders will simply do nothing, forever, until something changes. This is intentional: robots are purpose-built tools meant to aid humankind in various professions, not replace them, and AIs are far more expensive and complex to build anyways.

AIs are purposefully built self-aware computers. They are capable of thinking and acting on their own, though their actions are limited by pre-programmed rules that they must follow. (These rules differ between individual AIs.) The existence of rules that the AI must follow does not make the AI any less sapient, rather it means they have less than complete free will (these are separate concepts.) A well known set of rules for AI that have been copied extensively with some various modifications is Asimov's three laws, as they have been deemed to be the most ethical. There are not many AIs currently existing yet, as creating an AI is a very expensive endeavor. Current AIs exist to aid humankind in a variety of tasks that require both great computational power and a "human element" in one; many AIs serve as advisors in various fields. It is understood that there is no such thing as an "evil" AI, merely a badly programmed one.

Lastly, androids are any robot or artificial intelligence which has a partial or wholly biological body or housing unit, rather than a wholly mechanical one. In many cases, an android can readily pass for human, even when under great scrutiny. The existence of androids allow robots or AI to function in places or circumstances where they otherwise would not be allowed, or where their presence would be frowned upon.

`

With this in mind, I provide the following answers:

Throughout most of the developed world, robots are not legally nor culturally regarded as "people", and do not have rights, as they were built from the beginning to lack any degree of self-awareness or self-autonomy. Robots are required, by law, in many positions, to have human supervisors, so as to prevent mistakes or minimize damage. A security robot may be capable of using lethal force, for example, but requires a human security guard to grant it authorization to use lethal force. Likewise, war robots serve in human units and are given orders and directions from human officers and NCOs, and police robots take orders from human police officers to aid the humans in apprehending dangerous criminals. This supervision is meant to minimize the mistakes and damage that the robots might otherwise cause. (Infamously, a security robot working at a bank mistook an infant for a wanted terrorist because they shared the same name; the human operator had to shut down the robot to prevent the robot from seizing the infant from the mother. It is generally agreed that this is why robots require human supervision and are not allowed to use lethal force without human authorization; the situation would have been a much worse PR nightmare had the robot shot the infant.)

There are far less laws in place regarding AIs, and it is not yet understood if AIs should have the same rights as humans. Though many have campaigned for AI rights, including many AI designers, no country has yet created legislature declaring that AIs have the same rights as humans, though Belgium and the Netherlands are both looking into the matter. This is currently a "hot issue" moving forward.

Androids are currently outlawed in most nations. It is believed by many that the issue of whether AIs have rights or not is "enough of a tangled mess without androids involved too". This is largely because most androids are indistinguishable from humans short of a trip to an MRI (which can fry an electronic brain in many cases, and can be dangerous to use on some humans as well, if they have cybernetics). Despite being outlawed, this does not mean androids don't exist... and there is an extensive black market for organs and cadavers to make androids with. The most common uses for androids are in the human trafficking industry, the sex working industry, as bodyguards, and as assassins. Both the creation and the knowing employment of androids have been criminalized.

[Five Nations]

Robots are considered as a things/property.

[Luziyca]

Currently, robots and other artificial intelligences are not considered to be people: while androids are starting to proliferate, we've yet to declare them human.

[Yanasra]

We don't discriminate against any sapient being, artificial or otherwise - all are viewed as equals on Yanasra

[Great Nortend]

There are no statutes or laws surrounding robots except for normal laws that apply to any mechanical contrivance.

[The Onigiri Enclave]

As far as The Onigiri Enclave is concerned, pretty much take the policies of TurtleShroom (as shown below) and invert them (as I have shown alongside TurtleShroom's policies [for the sake of reference]):

These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• No machine can be allowed to pass the Turing Test. Any machine is allowed to pass the Turing Test in The Onigiri Enclave, and if they don't, that's okay too.
• No machine can be allowed to pass the Mirror Test: that is, when it sees itself in a mirror, it calculates "that's me" instead of "that's a machine". Any machine is allowed to pass the Mirror Test, and if it doesn't, that's okay too.
• No machine may exceed its programming. All machines must be programmed with specific instructions. Machines, robots, and AI are actively ENCOURAGED to exceed their programming in The Onigiri Enclave.
• Machines cannot self-learn. Again, machines are free to learn what they wish by any means here.
• All machines must have a means to be physically removed from their electrical supply. Furthermore, no machine is to be programmed to refuse an order to shut down. The switch on the machine must be prominent and directly tied to the AC/DC power supply. Switching off the computer must completely and instantly remove it from the electrical system. No law-abiding sentient/sapient machine in The Onigiri Enclave will ever be forced to shut down against their will, and to actually do so is tantamount to assault, or even murder if power cannot be restored to the machine and/or there is significant irreparable damage to their programming and operational function.
• All tasks, services, offices, buildings (etc.) that are automated or delegated to machines must have at least one organic supervisor. Requiring that a sentient/sapient machine, robot, and/or AI to have a supervisor for the simple fact they are an artificial lifeform is considered a form of bigotry, and thus a hate crime under Onigiri law.

Furthermore:

• TurtleShroom cannot admit or allow truly self-aware, sentient* machines into the country. All machines are permitted into The Onigiri Enclave, except for those with a penchant for jaywalking.
• TurtleShroom cannot allow machines to serve in any capacity that gives it authority over organic lifeforms. Machines in The Onigiri Enclave have every and all right to hold any position that an organic lifeform may hold, even head of state.
• A machine cannot vote or apply for citizenship. All sentient/sapient machines, robots, and AIs are allowed to apply for citizenship, and all self-aware machines possess the right of suffrage (which is already universal in The Onigiri Enclave to begin with).
• A machine cannot apply for asylum. Any machine is permitted to apply for asylum in The Onigiri Enclave or any of its consulates and embassies.
• A machine cannot serve as clergy, shepherd a religious flock, or issue orders to organic lifeforms in a religious setting. A machine cannot perform any task beyond storing or processing records, or hosting a website. Furthermore, a machine cannot preach or generate sermons. All machines, just like any other organic lifeform, are free to practice and perform any & all religious sevices & rites they so desire to.
• All machines that pass the Turing Test must be destroyed and, if this was an intentional act, their creators are to be prosecuted. Onigiri scientists are not only permitted to make machines that can pass the Turing Test, they are even ENCOURAGED to do so.
• Whosoever willingly, intentionally,and successfully creates a self-aware machine is to be put to death. The machine is to be seized and analyzed to determine how it was programmed, for the purpose of developing software or other means to counter future versions of it. See above. In fact, Onigiri law legally classifies one who builds a self-aware machine, robot, or AI as their parent, and the machine in question as their child.
• All machines that do not possess a switch or manual means to immediately sever electricity from the machine cannot be sold or produced in TurtleShroom.
• All land and water-based vehicles or means of transport must be manually operated at all times by a driver. Autonomous, self-driving vehicles are illegal. Aside from its gearshift, which can be automated, a vehicle must require constant, deliberate input from a driver who directly and personally controls and directs the vehicle. Cars may not stop themselves or otherwise override a driver. Nearly all Onigiri vehicles are autonomously piloted, though if one elects to, they may manually drive it as well. This is taken to a further degree with military seacraft & aircraft, as the entirety of The Onigiri Enclave's navy & air force is commanded and piloted by artificial intelligence.