🤖 Privacy and Robotics: Sharing Space with Autonomous Machines
The advances in robotics and artificial intelligence are transforming our daily lives, but are we truly prepared for the impact this will have on our privacy?
I was reading this article1 by Erin Relford from Google and decided to share some thoughts and my perspective on the advancement of robotics and its impact on privacy.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about technology, it’s that just when we think we’ve seen it all, it takes a leap forward and leaves us behind. Today, robots are moving beyond factories and into our streets, shopping malls, hospitals, and even our homes. They patrol buildings, make deliveries, and, in some cases, even provide companionship. Now, about privacy: they also observe, record, and learn.
I still believe that, in the future, these autonomous robots will be replaced by a hybrid of robot and human. Why strive to achieve AGI if the human brain already exists for that purpose? The moment we manage to enhance the use of the brain instead of merely trying to imitate it, we will truly reach AGI.
The interaction between humans and machines has always been based on control.
When we use an app, we decide when to open it, what to share, and when to close it. But autonomous robots change this dynamic. They initiate contact, collect data constantly, and often without us even noticing. Who controls this information? How can we ensure that our faces, habits, and even conversations don’t become just another data point for analysis?
The biggest problem is that traditional privacy mechanisms were not designed for this new reality. In the digital world, we are used to accepting cookies or adjusting privacy settings. But how do we apply that to a robot moving freely in a public space, equipped with cameras, microphones, and sensors? Imagine a security robot recording your movements in a mall or a delivery robot recognizing your home every time it stops at your door. This data can be useful, but it can also be exploited in ways we don’t fully understand yet.
Have you ever stopped to think about how much personal data you “process” in your brain throughout the day? Okay, okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but if we’re trying to mimic the human brain, do you really think robots won’t process massive amounts of personal data?
If privacy is already a challenge in the online world, it becomes even more complex in the physical world. The issue isn’t just how data is collected, but who controls it and for what purpose. When a robot operates in a public square, does it belong to a company? A government? A third party outsourcing the service? Who is the data controller responsible for processing personal information? Transparency is essential, but today, no country has clear regulations for this.
The security and privacy risks that come with this robotic revolution are not just theoretical—they are already happening. Cyberattacks on surveillance robots, drones, and even surgical assistants have proven that these devices can be compromised and used for malicious purposes. A robot designed to ensure security can, with a single hack, become a tool for espionage or sabotage.
The United States is rapidly advancing in the use of robots for military operations, solidifying a strategy where technology reduces the need for direct human intervention in war zones. From autonomous drones for surveillance and attacks to robotic ground systems used for reconnaissance and bomb disposal, investment in these machines has grown exponentially.
In the future, soldier recruitment might take a look at Call of Duty or Battlefield rankings.
The U.S. Department of Defense is already testing drone swarms capable of making tactical decisions in real time, along with ground robots that patrol borders and military bases without constant supervision. However, the use of robots in warfare raises serious ethical and security questions: who will be held accountable for decisions made by machines in combat? If a system fails and attacks the wrong target, how can transparency and accountability be ensured? The increasing autonomy of these technologies challenges the conventions of war and raises a troubling dilemma—are we heading toward a future where battles are fought by algorithms rather than human soldiers?
The growing integration of robots with IoT networks and autonomous systems further increases their vulnerability, making them easy targets for those looking to manipulate information or breach secure environments.
Last weekend, I watched Back in Action, the new Cameron Diaz movie on Netflix, and the central plot (spoiler) revolved around protecting a key that could control any system—power grids, bridges, computers. It’s a lighthearted comedy, just a fun movie to pass the time, but think about the power a robot would have with root access.
Another critical point is the psychological2 and social impact of the growing robotic presence. Trust in machines is far from solid, and many people feel uneasy interacting with robots that observe, record, and react in ways that aren’t fully understood. The illusion of control fades when we realize these devices make their own decisions, based on data we often have no access to—or don’t even realize is being collected. In a world where cameras are already everywhere, adding autonomous robots to public spaces could reshape our relationship with the physical world, creating a constant sense of surveillance.
We need clear guidelines on privacy in robotics, ensuring transparency and control over collected data. Current legislation is not keeping pace with these systems, leaving loopholes that can be exploited. Moreover, the companies developing these technologies must adopt stricter security and ethical standards.
Will we be able to build a future where humans and robots coexist in balance, or are we simply constructing a society where privacy is sacrificed in the name of efficiency and technological progress?
https://iapp.org/news/a/privacy-in-the-age-of-robotics
AFROZE, Diba; TU, Yazhou; HEI, Xiali. Securing the Future: Exploring Privacy Risks and Security Questions in Robotic Systems. arXiv preprint arXiv:2409.09972, 2024. https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.09972