The ethical stakes of social robots

According to Anne-Marie Benoit, a legal expert at the PACTE laboratory, several issues are at stake. One of the key questions is to ensure that human dignity, individual liberty and the right to privacy are respected. "Current legislation requires that you first obtain a user's informed consent. This allows you to define case by case the rules and limitations that will protect an individual's privacy." Liability can also becomes an issue if a robot malfunctions and causes an accident. Certain legal experts are looking to establish a special status for robots. And an association has even been created to defend the rights of robots!