Europe's robots to become 'electronic persons' under draft plan
Europe's robots to become 'electronic persons' under
draft plan
By Georgina Prodhan June 21, 2016
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 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.
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)
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