Europe's robots to become 'electronic persons' under draft plan

[Independent voter]

I think this is interesting and might offer a solution to the problem of mass unemployment the automation revolution will bring. Make companies pay social security taxes, health care, etc for robot employees.

Makes you wonder too if this will make it easier for robots to get rights once they become sentient.





https://www.yahoo.com/news/europes-r...or.html?ref=gs

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Europe's growing army of robot workers could be classed as "electronic persons" and their owners liable to paying social security for them if the European Union adopts a draft plan to address the realities of a new industrial revolution.

Robots are being deployed in ever-greater numbers in factories and also taking on tasks such as personal care or surgery, raising fears over unemployment, wealth inequality and alienation.

Their growing intelligence, pervasiveness and autonomy requires rethinking everything from taxation to legal liability, a draft European Parliament motion, dated May 31, suggests.

Some robots are even taking on a human form. Visitors to the world's biggest travel show in March were greeted by a lifelike robot developed by Japan's Toshiba <6502.T> and were helped by another made by France's Aldebaran Robotics.

However, Germany's VDMA, which represents companies such as automation giant Siemens and robot maker Kuka , says the proposals are too complicated and too early.

German robotics and automation turnover rose 7 percent to 12.2 billion euros ($13.8 billion) last year and the country is keen to keep its edge in the latest industrial technology. Kuka is the target of a takeover bid by China's Midea <000333.SZ>.

The draft motion called on the European Commission to consider "that at least the most sophisticated autonomous robots could be established as having the status of electronic persons with specific rights and obligations".

It also suggested the creation of a register for smart autonomous robots, which would link each one to funds established to cover its legal liabilities.

Patrick Schwarzkopf, managing director of the VDMA's robotic and automation department, said: "That we would create a legal framework with electronic persons - that's something that could happen in 50 years but not in 10 years."

"We think it would be very bureaucratic and would stunt the development of robotics," he told reporters at the Automatica robotics trade fair in Munich, while acknowledging that a legal framework for self-driving cars would be needed soon.

The report added that robotics and artificial intelligence may result in a large part of the work now done by humans being taken over by robots, raising concerns about the future of employment and the viability of social security systems.

The draft motion, drawn up by the European parliament's committee on legal affairs also said organizations should have to declare savings they made in social security contributions by using robotics instead of people, for tax purposes.

Schwarzkopf said there was no proven correlation between increasing robot density and unemployment, pointing out that the number of employees in the German automotive industry rose by 13 percent between 2010 and 2015, while industrial robot stock in the industry rose 17 percent in the same period.

The motion faces an uphill battle to win backing from the various political blocks in European Parliament. Even if it did get enough support to pass, it would be a non-binding resolution as the Parliament lacks the authority to propose legislation.

(Additional reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel in Brussels; Editing by Alexander Smith)

[LilSaihah]

I wanna say something about taxation without representation. Who will stand up for these robit's rights?

[mittacc]

Giving robots rights and paying social insurance for them? What? Just no.

[Deleted]

Regulating the development of robotics in its infancy

Why not ask for social security payments for using washing machines and automated assembly lines

The plans of regulation-obsessed bureaucrats

[Zoibert the Bear]

Robots are people too. They deserve to be treated as such and be paid so they can sustain their families.

I'm also tired of seeing how obsolete/old robots get thrown to the garbage and be brutally recycled into raw materials, it's a monstrosity that should not happen in this day and age.

#RobotLivesMatter

[Kalis]

What do we want? Robo-rights!

When do we want them? In 10 to 50 years time!

[greeeed]

Next you will ask for anime/comic characters human right....

[Deleted]

Next you will ask for anime/comic characters human right....

Sadly this has been happening for years already.

[Aeula]

Next you will ask for anime/comic characters human right....

My waifu is real and she loves me! She deserves the same rights as all of us!

[Deleted]

That is a rather odd way of going about it, but I guess in the current environment directly just telling them to fill out for what the robots replaced in jobs and taxes wouldn't go over so well.

Which is somewhat humorous and sad when one thinks about it.

[Elim Garak]

Robots - need no social security - no social security payments - less money for the government to steal - hell no

[Independent voter]

Robots - need no social security - no social security payments - less money for the government to steal - hell no

Well, when everyone is out of work because of robots, who will pay taxes?

[Cerunnir]

Robots - need no social security - no social security payments - less money for the government to steal - hell no

This is an interesting, and quite frankly very good solution to the problem of taxation. If all workers that can be replaced, is replaced with machines the goverment will need to get money in other ways. Automation is going to make profits for companies skyrocket, and it will NOT work if all that money end up in the hands of a handfull of already ultra rich people. Dont kid yourself, the automation revolution is going to be huge but only the already rich will be able to partake in the beginning because of the start up costs. If nothing is done to hinder this, its gonna hit the middle and lower class extremly hard and move alot of money from them and into the hands of the rich.

[Elim Garak]

Well, when everyone is out of work because of robots, who will pay taxes?

When workforce is entirely replaced by robots do you really think taxes will still be a thing? Not to mention the concept of money as we know it?

[dextersmith]

They're people before they are realized? Imagine if you're given the death sentence for unplugging a lamp or uninstalling Windows or deleting a mp3 file. Is typing considered rape? They're taking the Jetsons too far.

[Cerunnir]

When workforce is entirely replaced by robots do you really think taxes will still be a thing? Not to mention the concept of money as we know it?

Somehow you need to "take" the money from the rich and give it to the poor so they can acquire food and goods. The rich will not give it up voulantarily, even if the rest of the population is starving. I think you're confusing the automation revolution, with the post-scarcity era (Think Star Trek'esque with replicators and clean unlimited energy). Automation will not remove scarcity, so the available food and goods have to be distributed somehow.

I have zero idea of what model would work best in a society where almost all manual labour is automated, but something needs to change or we are going to have a HUGE issue with unemployment and poverty. Large numbers of unemployed and poor people, is a perfect way to run your society into the ground. You do not want a majority group in your country that is deeply unhappy with their situation.

[Kokolums]

If I own a company & own my robot employees, what compels me to do business with your country? What exactly does your country offer in return except to tax me?

[alexw]

If I own a company & own my robot employees, what compels me to do business with your country? What exactly does your country offer in return except to tax me?

Who exactly do you plan on selling your goods to if just about everyone is unemployed with no income? Without a "tax you and give it out" mechanism, you have no customers and your company will fold. That will be true irrespective of the country you operate in.

[Kokolums]

But I don't have to do business with every country...

[Dezerte]

Sounds like a bad idea, unless said robots are sentient. Robots could easily be exploited, sentient or not, something which I'd rather not see.