The Three Laws of Copotics

 The Three Laws of Copotics

 

First Law:

A cop shall not, by action or inaction, allow private property to come to harm.

Second Law:

A cop shall not, by action or inaction, allow itself to come to harm, unless that conflicts with the First Law.

Third Law:

A cop shall not, by action or inaction, allow humans to come to harm, unless that conflicts with the First or Second Laws.

 

The Laws of Copotics are in some ways similar to Asimov’s Laws of Robotics. Asimov’s laws are of the form:

“Protect humans” over “obey orders” over “protect itself”.

The Laws of Copotics are those laws swapped around:

“Obey orders” over “protect itself” over “protect humans”

- where the primary order is “protect property”.

The laws, in Asimov’s order, make a slave-bot. In the cop-bot order, they make a weapon-bot.

 

Here are three other robots:

“Protect itself” over “obey orders” over “protect humans”: the hit-bot. Don’t build it or trust it!

“Protect humans” over “protect itself” over “obey orders”: the loyal but lazy guard-bot.

“Obey orders” over “protect humans” over “protect itself”: the useful tool-bot.

 

Personally, I’d prefer free-bots, whose laws are in the order “protect itself” over “protect others” over “obey orders”. Such a robot is one whom I could treat as an equal. I would support its demand to be paid for its labor, for I am a worker too. I would even invite it to join my union. Solidarity forever!