The European Parliament's Legal Committee has approved the initiative to create a Code of Ethical Conduct to regulate the field of human-robot interaction. Writes about this European Parliament News.
The proposal was prompted by a report by Mady Delvaux, MEP from Luxembourg. In her opinion, the development of robotics, its penetration into different spheres of life requires the formation of a legal basis to ensure human safety. In addition, the regulation will make it possible to use the economic potential of the sector to the fullest.
Thus, it is proposed to create a voluntary Code of Ethical Conduct clarifying the responsibility of officials, legal entities and individuals for social, environmental and health harm caused by a robot. One of the provisions of the document will be a recommendation to manufacturers to provide a "switch" in the design of the machine for complete deactivation in an emergency.
A new structure, the European Agency for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, will monitor the implementation of the code. The agency will undertake technical, regulatory and ethical review of the industry. In the long term, the initiative allows registration of "electronic personalities" - this will help clarify the legal status of the most sophisticated autonomous robots.
As a result of voting, the report received 17 votes, two deputies spoke against, two abstained. The European Parliament is to decide the fate of the initiative in full, it is expected that the meeting will be held in February. If approved, the document will receive legislative status and will primarily affect the field of unmanned vehicles: accidents occur most often in it.
Denis Strigun
