Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
The push for rules about robots has hastened as driverless cars have become a reality. Youtube/20thCenturyFox
Rise of the Machines
Robots should be given legal status as 'electronic persons' and fitted with 'kill switches' - EU
An EU committee has made a raft of recommendations about the future of AI.
4.55pm, 12 Jan 2017
14.2k
65
THE UNSTOPPABLE RISE of robots in our everyday lives requires urgent EU rules such as “kill switches”, European Parliament members have warned.
It came as members passed a resolution urging Brussels into action on automaton ethics.
Mady Delvaux, a Socialist MEP from Luxembourg, led the campaign and warned that Europe is passively standing by as robots take an increasingly powerful role that will grow even stronger with the emergence of driverless cars.
To encourage EU action, Delvaux tabled a resolution at the European Parliament that also includes the need for an EU agency specialised in dealing with artificial intelligence.
Once passed, Delvaux’s resolution could force the European Commission to begin work on laws that deal with these issues head-on.
“A growing number of areas of our daily lives are increasingly affected by robotics,” Delvaux said after a committee vote on her measure.
In order… to ensure that robots are and will remain in the service of humans, we urgently need to create a robust European legal framework.
Delvaux’s resolution was easily passed by the European Parliament’s legal affairs committee yesterday and now faces a plenary vote, probably in February.
Her report is a broad overview on how robots are creeping into the lives of humans and what the EU can do to stay in control.
Its recommendations are wide-ranging, including the kill switch allowing humans to shut down a robot at the smallest sign of danger.
‘Apocalyptic scenario’
Without such rules, “humanity could face the apocalyptic scenario where robots turn on their human masters,” Delvaux warned in an interview with EU affairs website EurActiv.
Advertisement
Delavaux also warned that robots cannot be your friend, no matter how emotionally involving they may become.
Peter Byrne
Peter Byrne
“We always have to remind people that robots are not human and will never be. Although they might appear to show empathy, they cannot feel it,” she added.
The report also recommends that a specific legal status be created for robots and that the most sophisticated autonomous robots could have the status of “electronic persons”.
The report states that this would give them:
Specific rights and obligations, including that of making good any damage they may cause, and applying electronic personality to cases where robots make smart autonomous decisions.
recommends an EU agency for robotics to oversee all European regulation involving robots, like the bloc already has for food safety or aviation.
Most urgently, the report demands that the EU draw up a legal framework for driverless cars.
Auto builders want to see robotic cars on the roads by 2020, but difficult questions remain on who would be legally liable in the case of a car crash.
“If all decisions of a machine are no longer directly attributable to the actions of a person, it must be clarified who is liable if something goes wrong,” said Greens MEP Julia Reda, who backed the report.
To fill this void, the MEPs called for an obligatory insurance scheme and a fund to ensure victims are fully compensated in cases of accidents.
The report also called for the EU to find ways to help the millions of workers who will inevitably lose their jobs as industries become increasingly automated.
Only non-Western countries are allowed have borders it seems. Anyone who doesn’t subscribe to that belief is far right in the eyes of open border nut jobs.
It’s interesting how people are red thumbing the link I posted. Is it because they feel things like this shouldn’t be reported or they agree with his actions?
@Beachmaster: It’s probably because it’s a link to the Express. People tend to fall for the fallacy that the source indicates the truth or otherwise of the contents.
Next time try finding a German source and let them use google translate. Most won’t because that would be far too much effort. But those who do just might grasp that only ‘far right’ newspapers bother to translate and republish this kind of thing.
Here, I’ll help with this one:
“Ein Islamist hat auf einer Kinderweihnachtsfeier die Anwesenden in Angst und Schrecken versetzt. Bei einer Aufführung der Kleinsten stürmte er auf die Bühne und begann aus dem Koran zu predigen.”
Translation: “An Islamist made attendees at a childrens Christmas festival shocked and afraid. During a performance by the littlest ones he stormed the stage and began to preach from the Koran.”
Our EU leaders should hang their heads in shame they have had yrs to come up wit an answer to this problem. Genuine refugees should be accepted until returning to there homes when the situation is right (if they wish),economic migrants must be made aware that will not reach Europe and that they are risking their lives for nothing
As populations are rising exponentially in places such as Asia, Africa and the Middle East there will be a corresponding rise in those claiming asylum as refugees for all sorts of reasons.
Even having legitimate refugee status has its limits as the numbers will be too great to bear in Europe and other parts of the West.
The West should not be used as a human repository just because other countries in other parts of the world have lost the run of themselves, or never did. Integration, let alone assimilation, will prove impossible. It already is for many.
the slave trade is back and alive and well. over 60% of these are economic migrants, perhaps higher now that words got back to their friends behind. fully supported by the elite, the likes of george soros and co. or celeb endorsed dictators smack their exploitive lips at. will they have to deal with it? nah, thats never part of the agenda. one could easily think the media hand pick these boat pics that show just young males, no children, not women… just to stir up those against, a sort of coniving propaganda. The thing is most of them are that, young opportunist men.
“We have no duty to let them die” Ok, so why can’t you drop them back to their starting point? You are actively encouraging migrants to risk their lives crossing the Med. Blood is on your hands, just like Merkel.
One could hardly term it a rescue at this stage as most of these hundreds of thousands must be aware of the dangers. It’s more of a gambling game right now. The EU should intercept these individuals in Libya, finger print and DNA them and issue a formal warning to them about smugglers and the dangers and so on and if they are subsequently found at sea they should be sent back asap.
Either have border controls or don’t have border controls. Real democratic countries give their citizens a vote in such matters but then again we are in the PO xy EU
I think the Irish navy should help in the rescue but can’t see the refugees getting out of Italy which is already overloaded with asylum seekers None of the posts on this thread critical of the present policy would ever be allowed on RTE or Newstalk They would be seen as far right and racist
Its open season for people smugglers as European navies are providing a taxi service. The pictures are reasonably accurate, just look at all the women and children……………oh wait there are none. All I see is young military age males.
“It’s also a question of human kindness,” – Where was the human kindness for those raped and assaulted in Cologne, or for the families of those kill in terrorist attacks.
The emotionally blackmailed bleeding heart liberals have enabled all of this.
The Irish navy assisting people smugglers and encouraging those who will risk their own lives for the promise of future prosperity.
The migrants should be returned to Libya.
(1) Every boat that’s stopped, all the passengers are interrogated.
(2) If they give useful information enabling a trafficker to be identified, they get preferential review for asylum.
(3) If that information is good enough to secure the capture and conviction of a trafficker, they get to stay and get €100,000 for their trouble.
(4) Everyone else gets dropped back in Libya.
(5) The boat is scuttled.
Now the traffickers have become a winning lottery ticket walking around. Greatly reduced financial incentive => less supply.
I agree that you have a duty. But that means encouraging them to not make that trip in the first place by showing them it’s futile. Ie: return then from whence they came.
So long as you keep bringing them to your country, you encourage them to make the dangerous trip, making you responsible for their deaths
Ireland already has some medical deserts - and it’s been getting worse
Maria Delaney
1 hr ago
1.1k
6
St Patrick's Day
Quiz: How much do you know about green things?
3 hrs ago
10.2k
United States
Tánaiste says Conor McGregor 'doesn't speak for Ireland' as MMA fighter arrives at White House
Updated
9 hrs ago
63.7k
Your Cookies. Your Choice.
Cookies help provide our news service while also enabling the advertising needed to fund this work.
We categorise cookies as Necessary, Performance (used to analyse the site performance) and Targeting (used to target advertising which helps us keep this service free).
We and our 157 partners store and access personal data, like browsing data or unique identifiers, on your device. Selecting Accept All enables tracking technologies to support the purposes shown under we and our partners process data to provide. If trackers are disabled, some content and ads you see may not be as relevant to you. You can resurface this menu to change your choices or withdraw consent at any time by clicking the Cookie Preferences link on the bottom of the webpage .Your choices will have effect within our Website. For more details, refer to our Privacy Policy.
We and our vendors process data for the following purposes:
Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development.
Cookies Preference Centre
We process your data to deliver content or advertisements and measure the delivery of such content or advertisements to extract insights about our website. We share this information with our partners on the basis of consent. You may exercise your right to consent, based on a specific purpose below or at a partner level in the link under each purpose. Some vendors may process your data based on their legitimate interests, which does not require your consent. You cannot object to tracking technologies placed to ensure security, prevent fraud, fix errors, or deliver and present advertising and content, and precise geolocation data and active scanning of device characteristics for identification may be used to support this purpose. This exception does not apply to targeted advertising. These choices will be signaled to our vendors participating in the Transparency and Consent Framework.
Manage Consent Preferences
Necessary Cookies
Always Active
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then these services may not function properly.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not be able to monitor our performance.
Store and/or access information on a device 109 partners can use this purpose
Cookies, device or similar online identifiers (e.g. login-based identifiers, randomly assigned identifiers, network based identifiers) together with other information (e.g. browser type and information, language, screen size, supported technologies etc.) can be stored or read on your device to recognise it each time it connects to an app or to a website, for one or several of the purposes presented here.
Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development 141 partners can use this purpose
Use limited data to select advertising 111 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times an ad is presented to you).
Create profiles for personalised advertising 83 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (such as forms you submit, content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (for example, information from your previous activity on this service and other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (that might include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present advertising that appears more relevant based on your possible interests by this and other entities.
Use profiles to select personalised advertising 83 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on your advertising profiles, which can reflect your activity on this service or other websites or apps (like the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects.
Create profiles to personalise content 38 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (for instance, forms you submit, non-advertising content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (such as your previous activity on this service or other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (which might for example include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present content that appears more relevant based on your possible interests, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find content that matches your interests.
Use profiles to select personalised content 34 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on your content personalisation profiles, which can reflect your activity on this or other services (for instance, the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects. This can for example be used to adapt the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find (non-advertising) content that matches your interests.
Measure advertising performance 132 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
Measure content performance 60 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources 74 partners can use this purpose
Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
Develop and improve services 83 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
Use limited data to select content 38 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
Use precise geolocation data 46 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Actively scan device characteristics for identification 27 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Ensure security, prevent and detect fraud, and fix errors 90 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent unusual and possibly fraudulent activity (for example, regarding advertising, ad clicks by bots), and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. It can also be used to correct any problems you, the publisher or the advertiser may encounter in the delivery of content and ads and in your interaction with them.
Deliver and present advertising and content 97 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
Certain information (like an IP address or device capabilities) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device.
Match and combine data from other data sources 72 partners can use this feature
Always Active
Information about your activity on this service may be matched and combined with other information relating to you and originating from various sources (for instance your activity on a separate online service, your use of a loyalty card in-store, or your answers to a survey), in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Link different devices 53 partners can use this feature
Always Active
In support of the purposes explained in this notice, your device might be considered as likely linked to other devices that belong to you or your household (for instance because you are logged in to the same service on both your phone and your computer, or because you may use the same Internet connection on both devices).
Identify devices based on information transmitted automatically 86 partners can use this feature
Always Active
Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it automatically sends when accessing the Internet (for instance, the IP address of your Internet connection or the type of browser you are using) in support of the purposes exposed in this notice.
Save and communicate privacy choices 68 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
The choices you make regarding the purposes and entities listed in this notice are saved and made available to those entities in the form of digital signals (such as a string of characters). This is necessary in order to enable both this service and those entities to respect such choices.
have your say