Regarding the Issue of the Essence of Legal Treatment and the Possibility of Granting Legal Status to a Robot in Civil Law
This academic chapter examines the legal treatment of robots in civil law and evaluates the possibility of granting them legal status as subjects of law. The authors conclude that while robots possess certain characteristics of legal subjects, they cannot be granted independent legal personality because they lack free will and the ability to express mental attitudes towards their actions. Consequently, robots should be treated as objects of law whose actions are defined by their human owners.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
Researchers and legal scholars studying the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and civil law.
What the document contains
The text explores the legal nature of robots within civil circulation, comparing them to legal persons and analyzing whether they can hold rights and duties as independent legal subjects.
The text does not provide binding regulatory rules, enforcement mechanisms, or legislative drafts.
- Robots are essentially technical devices and should be viewed as objects of law with specific technical specifications.
- Although robots can carry out physical acts independently, they lack their own free will and cannot express mental attitudes towards their actions.
- Robots cannot be recognized as independent subjects of law based on comparisons with legal persons.
- The actions of robots are always defined by their human owners, who possess legal capacity, active capacity, and delictual dispositive capacity.
Not stated
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Accountability
3/5Clear responsibility for AI outcomes
But despite that fact robots cannot be recognized as independent subjects of law, as their actions are always defined by their human owners who actually possess legal capacity
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Fairness
0/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Dignity
0/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Oversight
0/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Privacy
0/5Protection of personal data and private life
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Transparency
0/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Enforcement
0/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Impact Assessment
0/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24