NORTHAMPTON — In videos shared over social media platforms, a robot dog with an attached machine gun illustrates the ease some people could have weaponizing this advanced technology, bringing new dangers to the public from drones and various robotic devices.

Concerned with the possibilities of misuse of advanced mobile robotics, which are increasingly more accessible, autonomous, affordable and adaptable, Boston Dynamics and other companies developing the technology issued an open letter last year, expressing concern for the potential for misuse, and pledging not to weaponize their creations.

“Untrustworthy people could use them to invade civil rights or to threaten, harm, or intimidate others,” that letter states.

Understanding the need to protect the public while bringing stability and predictability to the market, state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, joined with state Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury, to file legislation this week that prohibits the manufacture, sale and operation of robotic devices or drones that are mounted with a weapon.

The bill, titled “an act to ensure the responsible use of advanced robotic technologies,” could be the first of its kind put into law in the United States, and is supported by leaders in the robotics industry and civil rights organizations including the ACLU of Massachusetts.

“Entrepreneurs need the stability of our Legislature’s foresight, communities need safety from this fast-moving technology, and above all we have to act to ensure public confidence and safety,” Sabadosa said in a statement. “Robotics can, do, and will shape our economies and our lives for the better, and it is the duty of my colleagues and I to keep our attention on this developing technology.”

The bill contains three primary provisions related to robots, drones, and other “uncrewed” robotic devices in Massachusetts. Those are banning the sale and use of robotic devices with weapons, banning the use of robotic devices to threaten or harass, and banning the usage of robotic devices to physically restrain an individual.

Violations of these provisions could bring fines of between $5,000 and $25,000, in addition to other penalties imposed through violations of existing laws.

Sabadosa said she drew on the letter from Boston Dynamics, but also wanted to make sure that modern tools are not taken away from those charged with keeping the public safe.

“Another point this bill addresses is helping assure public confidence in law enforcement officials’ use of these technologies when they see them in their communities,” Sabadosa said, adding that mobile robots are already being used in several large cities by fire departments, police bomb squads and SWAT response teams.

“This legislation codifies requirements that a warrant is required when a robot enters private property, except in exigent circumstances,” Sabadosa said. “The bill also requires that information about the usage of advanced robotic technology by law enforcement agencies must be available to the public under Massachusetts public records law.”

Moore is co-sponsoring the bill, observing that the pace of innovation often moves faster than critical regulation that protects the public, and can be a very dangerous technology if in the wrong hands.

“This bill puts reasonable guardrails around the use of robots to harass members of the public and bans the weaponization of this technology by those without strict oversight, while also introducing rules for law enforcement to bolster public trust,” Moore said in a statement. “I am hopeful that, if passed, this legislation can serve as a model for responsible robotics regulation in other states and beyond.”

The U.S. military, law enforcement officials disposing of explosives and private companies testing anti-weaponization technologies would be able to get case-by-case waivers from the state attorney general.

“Advanced mobile robots are incredible tools that can enrich our lives and keep people safe, but makeshift efforts to weaponize general purpose robots threaten public trust and acceptance of this emerging technology,” said Brendan Schulman, vice president of policy and government relations at Boston Dynamics.

“Hollywood often paints a vivid picture of a dystopian future filled with robotic violence, but we have the power to ensure those images stay in the realm of fiction,” said Kade Crockford, a program director at the ACLU of Massachusetts. “Weaponized robots pose an unacceptable threat to our safety and basic rights.”

The bill next will be assigned to legislative committees for evaluation and testimony.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>