1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

Ban Tech that Harms People by Violating Laws of Robotics! I was distressed to learn of the plan for US Immigrations and Enforcement (ICE) to enter into a contract with Boston Dynamics for the purchase of the company’s "Spot" Robot Dogs. This is one of countless examples of a cruel, rogue agency pressuring and bribing tech experts into complicity with violence. Their intentions violate and undermine the ethical Laws of Robotics: 1st Law: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2nd Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3rd Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws. Isaac Asimov more recently added the "Zeroth Law" to supersede the original three: 0th Law: A robot may not harm humanity or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm. --- These laws are not just universal across culture and geography, but integral to the founding principles of our Constitution and nation. The Boston Dynamics website states that they “strive to create a future in which humans and machines work together to improve everyone's safety, productivity and quality of life,” and that the robots must work “in service of human needs.” Government use of robots, they note, must not involve “violation of privacy and civil rights laws.” Yet ICE has repeatedly demonstrated that it is incapable of acting in a manner consistent with these principles: * in its use of violence, * in targeting individuals exercising their Constitutional rights, and * in resisting all efforts to be held accountable for its actions. ICE may claim their interest in Spot is for 'purely defensive purposes,' but eveery Tech company should note what ICE deems a "defensive action." For example, ICE agents have claimed self-defense when they have shot at people in vehicles, despite video evidence that the agents were never in harm’s way. In July, a New York Times investigation found that nearly half of 400-plus resolved assault cases brought against protesters and immigrants unraveled, often because agents were found to have initiated force. It is frightening to consider how far a rogue agency like ICE can go when provided with powerful technology. Bottom line: A Tech company, such as Boston Dynamics, should not want to be associated with an agency that is tearing communities apart with seemingly little concern for civil rights and human decency. However, whatever their intentions and resistance to bribery, we must *Now* establish and enforce Bans on any Tech that violates the Laws of Robotics. We insist our Representatives and government leaders Reject and Ban such contracts! We cannot wait another day - harm is already being done with electrified gloves, tear gas, surveillance and tracking, cell signal interception, and AI searches of the dark web to harass, exploit, blackmail, and detain/deport Americans! Please push unscrupulous tech leaders to join growing number of companies choosing to stand by their own principles and on the right side of history.