The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Regulatory challenges of robotics: some guidelines for addressing legal and ethical issues
Open accessAbstract
Robots are slowly, but certainly, entering people’s professional and private lives. They require the attention of regulators due to the challenges they present to existing legal frameworks and the new legal and ethical questions they raise. This paper discusses four major regulatory dilemmas in the field of robotics: how to keep up with technological advances; how to strike a balance between stimulating innovation and the protection of fundamental rights and values; whether to affirm prevalent social norms or nudge social norms in a different direction; and, how to balance effectiveness versus legitimacy in techno-regulation. The four dilemmas are each treated in the context of a particular modality of regulation: law, market, social norms, and technology as a regulatory tool; and for each, we focus on particular topics – such as liability, privacy, and autonomy – that often feature as the major issues requiring regulatory attention. The paper then highlights the role and potential of the European framework of rights and values, responsible research and innovation, smart regulation and soft law as means of dealing with the dilemmas.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“such industry”
From In support of “no-fault” civil liability rules for artificial intelligence (2021) · cites this paper as Leenes et al. (2017)
Citations
Cites
Still being checked.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–200 of 204
Integrating AI robotics in emerging economies: what are the ethical limits?
Saura, J. R., Hernández-Tamurejo, Á., & González-Padilla, P. (2025) · The Bottom Line Managing Library Finances · doi:10.1108/bl-11-2024-0200 · Cited by 7
A Path Dependent Approach for Characterizing the Legal Governance of Autonomous Systems
Borson, J. E., & Xu, H. (2022) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2022.3221409 · Cited by 7
Liability issues of Unmanned Surface Vehicles
Ferreira, F., Alves, J., Bertolini, A., & Bargelli, E. (2018) · MTS/IEEE OCEANS Conference (OCEANS) · doi:10.1109/oceans.2018.8604606 · Cited by 6
Self-citationWitter, M., de Rooij, A., van Dartel, M., & Krahmer, E. (2022) · Frontiers in Computer Science · doi:10.3389/fcomp.2022.991180 · Cited by 8
REGULATORY SANDBOXES UNDER THE DRAFT EU ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACT: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SMES?
Poščić, A., & Martinović, A. (2023) · InterEULawEast journal for the international and european law economics and market integrations · doi:10.22598/iele.2022.9.2.3 · Cited by 6
The Future of Legal and Ethical Regulations for Autonomous Robotics
Xu, H., & Borson, J. E. (2018) · IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) · doi:10.1109/iros.2018.8593915 · Cited by 5
de Pagter, J. (2021) · Frontiers in Robotics and AI · doi:10.3389/frobt.2021.769349 · Cited by 6
Industry 5.0: Sustainability Challenges in Fusion of Human and AI
Patnaik, A., Dawar, S., & Kudal, P. (2022) · International Conference on Information Management & Machine Intelligence (ICIMMI) · doi:10.1145/3590837.3590903 · Cited by 5
Yapay Zekalı Hizmet Robotlarına Yönelik Etik Hususlar
Doğan, S., & Çakıcı, A. C. (2022) · Güncel Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi · doi:10.32572/guntad.1009648 · Cited by 4
Ilan, Y. (2024) · Bioengineering · doi:10.3390/bioengineering11111111 · Cited by 5
Hasan, O. A., Alhakeem, Z. M., Armash, M. K., Khazal, M. T., Malik, A. A., & Abdullah, M. N. (2022) · International Conference on Information and Communications Technology (ICOIACT) · doi:10.1109/icoiact55506.2022.9972084 · Cited by 4
Introduction to autonomous systems
Verma, A. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-99545-0.00017-8 · Cited by 4
A Critical Analysis of Consent in Human–Robot Interaction
Lintvedt, M. N. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009386708.021 · Cited by 4
Guerra, G. (2018) · German Law Journal · doi:10.1017/s2071832200022793 · Cited by 4
Envisioning and Questioning Near Future Urban Robotics
Lupetti, M. L., Cila, N., Colombo, S., Lim, Y., Bruns, M., Chen, L.-L., Djajadiningrat, T., Feijs, L., Hu, J., Kyffin, S., et al. (2019) · doi:10.21428/5395bc37.d44e2913 · Cited by 4
Pastra, A., Sánchez, M. J. N., Kartsimadakis, A., Johansson, T. M., Klenum, T., Aschert, T., Lennan, M., Papaioannou, M. G., & Theodorou, M. (2023) · Studies in national governance and emerging technologies · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-25296-9_20 · Cited by 4
Studley, M., & Winfield, A. F. T. (2020) · Current Robotics Reports · doi:10.1007/s43154-020-00027-0 · Cited by 4
Zhu, R., Zhao, Y., & Li, Y. (2025) · Risk Management and Healthcare Policy · doi:10.2147/rmhp.s555754 · Cited by 6
Hartmann, D., Hamříková, K., Vysocký, A., Laciok, V., & Bernatík, A. (2026) · Results in Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.rineng.2026.110486 · Cited by 3
Li, W., & Wolbring, G. (2019) · Work · doi:10.3233/wor-192973 · Cited by 3
محمد, ع. ط. ب. (2021) · مجلة الدراسات القانونیة والاقتصادیة · doi:10.21608/jdl.2021.209788 · Cited by 3
(2020) · Research in ethical issues in organizations · doi:10.1108/s1529-209620200000023003 · Cited by 3
Boyer, A., & Farzaneh, F. (2021) · Journal of Organizational Psychology · doi:10.33423/jop.v21i3.4311 · Cited by 3
Blanc, C. A. (2023) · Revista Internacional de Pensamiento Político · doi:10.46661/rev.int.pensampolit..8529 · Cited by 2
Building a Smart Legal Ecosystem for Industry 5.0
Casanovas, P. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009386708.012 · Cited by 4
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ANTI-CORRUPTION: ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES IN THE ERA OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Dang, M. T., & Vu, T. L. (2024) · Revista Gestão & Tecnologia · doi:10.20397/2177-6652/2024.v24i3.2899 · Cited by 3
Preliminary Observations on AI Regulation
Simó, F. Z. (2021) · Mesterséges intelligencia · doi:10.35406/mi.2021.1.33 · Cited by 6
Buğra, A. (2019) · AIDA Europe research series on insurance law and regulation · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-27386-6_8 · Cited by 3
Safety by simulation: theorizing the future of robot regulation
Viljanen, M. (2023) · AI & Society · doi:10.1007/s00146-023-01730-0 · Cited by 4
Nikolinakos, N. T. (2024) · Law, governance and technology series · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-67969-8_9 · Cited by 4
Souza, R. R. D. C., & Pedron, C. D. (2025) · Future Studies Research Journal Trends and Strategies · doi:10.24023/futurejournal/2175-5825/2025.v17i1.900 · Cited by 2
Jao, J.-C., Lin, C.-W., Chen, P.-C., Chang, Y.-C., Chen, Y.-J., & Liu, W.-H. (2025) · Marine Policy · doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106996 · Cited by 2
Parts, J., Leoste, J., Tammemäe, K., & Rakić, S. (2025) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2025.3645240 · Cited by 2
Francia, O. A. A., & Álvarez, C. C. (2025) · Revista Oficial del Poder Judicial Órgano de Investigación de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de la República del Perú · doi:10.35292/ropj.v17i23.1066 · Cited by 2
The Use of Drones and the New Procedural Safeguards in Crime Control and Criminal Investigation
Orlando, C. (2022) · Legal studies in international, european and comparative criminal law · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-13952-9_5 · Cited by 2
Ethical and Social Consideration in Mechatronics
Mobarak, M. H., Hasan, M. J., Rahman, M., Rana, M., Shaikat, A. S., & Tasnim, R. (2024) · Emerging trends in mechatronics · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-7117-2_8 · Cited by 2
Zard, L., Bieger, J., Dechesne, F., & Dignum, V. (2019) · Delphi - Interdisciplinary Review of Emerging Technologies · doi:10.21552/delphi/2019/4/7 · Cited by 2
Macías, E. A. (2021) · IUS ET SCIENTIA · doi:10.12795/ietscientia.2021.i01.09 · Cited by 2
Barata, J., Jassbi, J. J., & Nikghadam-Hojjati, S. (2022) · IFIP advances in information and communication technology · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-14844-6_40 · Cited by 2
Dermatological diagnostic-assistive technologies: a call for regulatory action
Pinto-Alves, M. D. R. (2023) · AI and Ethics · doi:10.1007/s43681-023-00262-z · Cited by 2
L’être humain face à l’IA : soumis ou dominant ?
Farzaneh, F., & Boyer, A. (2021) · Gestion 2000 · doi:10.3917/g2000.382.0157 · Cited by 1
Espinosa, R. A. G., & Niemann, J. T. (2021) · Revista Chilena de Derecho y Tecnología · doi:10.5354/0719-2584.2021.57874 · Cited by 1
Navigating the Intersection of Ethics and Privacy in the AI Era
Taneja, S., Shukla, R. P., & Singh, A. (2024) · Advances in marketing, customer relationship management, and e-services book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-2215-4.ch014 · Cited by 2
Nikolinakos, N. T. (2024) · Law, governance and technology series · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-67969-8_8 · Cited by 5
Pande, S., & Sabale, V. (2025) · doi:10.38124/ijisrt/25apr1139 · Cited by 1
Balancing Progress and Protection: Toward Ethical AI Regulation
Kwatra, N., Maqbali, F. A., Alsuraihi, S. A. S., Albalushi, J., & Soans, S. V. (2025) · Contributions to environmental sciences & innovative business technology · doi:10.1007/978-981-96-3464-4_13 · Cited by 1
Mwakisoma, M. P., & Ma, M. (2025) · Ocean & Coastal Management · doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107781 · Cited by 1
Mallick, N., & Sahu, S. (2025) · Studies in computational intelligence · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-05603-0_10 · Cited by 1
Human Augmentation and the Future of Work: Ethical Considerations for HR Leaders
Dhutraj, A., Ansari, N., & Gupta, N. (2025) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-83708-166-020251012 · Cited by 1
Shaffique, M. R., Fosch‐Villaronga, E., Mut-Piña, A., & van der Hof, S. (2026) · Robotics and Autonomous Systems · doi:10.1016/j.robot.2026.105599 · Cited by 1
Stout, H., & de Jong, M. (2020) · Laws · doi:10.3390/laws9020011 · Cited by 1
Drukarch, H., Calleja, C., & Fosch‐Villaronga, E. (2022) · Biosystems & biorobotics · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-04305-5_37 · Cited by 1
Marwala, T. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-99-5103-1_11 · Cited by 1
Assessing Key Success Elements for the Economic Sustainability of the Robotics Industry
Naik, G. B. D. S. (2023) · European Economic Letters (EEL) · doi:10.52783/eel.v13i5.884 · Cited by 1
Sachdeva, C., Grover, V., Kaur, P., & Gangwar, V. P. (2024) · Advances in logistics, operations, and management science book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-5503-9.ch007 · Cited by 1
Managing the AI Period's Confluence of Security and Morality
Pramanik, S. (2024) · Advances in computational intelligence and robotics book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-3691-5.ch010 · Cited by 1
Smuha, N. A. (2025) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009367783.009 · Cited by 1
Towards Evidence-Based Standard-Making for Robot Governance
Calleja, C., Drukarch, H., & Fosch‐Villaronga, E. (2022) · Biosystems & biorobotics · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-04305-5_36 · Cited by 1
الجوانب القانونية والأخلاقية لغرسات التكنولوجيا الحيوية في ضوء المواثيق الدولية
علام, إ. أ. (2022) · مجلة کلیة الشریعة و القانون بطنطا مجلة فصلیة علمیة محکمة · doi:10.21608/mksq.2022.277210 · Cited by 1
Lindblom, D. S., Pajalić, Z., & Tørresen, J. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009386708.018 · Cited by 1
Cognitive Journalism and Its Adaptation of Disruptive TechnologyPreprint
Taslim, S. (2018) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3313328 · Cited by 1
Roboethics principles and policies in Europe and North America
Langman, S., Capicotto, N., Maddahi, Y., & Zareinia, K. (2023) · doi:10.32920/23737446 · Cited by 1
Online Platforms as Labour Market IntermediariesPreprint
Ratti, L. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5087834 · Cited by 1
Global Media Ethics and Human Rights: Roles, Responsibilities, and Rehumanizing Journalism
Breit, R. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-32103-5_29
Hardcoding the “Smart” Factory
Ionescu, T. B. (2022) · RESET · doi:10.4000/reset.3389
Artificial Intelligence and Redress for Damages
Marchisio, E. (2022) · Advances in human and social aspects of technology book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-8476-7.ch010
Challenges of Robotics: A Quest for an Integrated Action
Islam, M. T., Karim, R., & Vyas, S. (2022) · Lecture notes on data engineering and communications technologies · doi:10.1007/978-981-19-2347-0_18
7. The law as backbone in responsible innovation
Cuijpers, C. (2022) · Wageningen Academic Publishers eBooks · doi:10.3920/978-90-8686-922-0_7
Roboethics principles and policies in Europe and North America
Langman, S., Capicotto, N., Maddahi, Y., & Zareinia, K. (2023) · doi:10.32920/23737446.v1
Artificial Intelligent Tools: Evidence-Mapping on the Perceived Positive Effects on Patient-CarePreprint
Botha, N. N., Ansah, E. W., Segbedzi, C. E., Dumahasi, V. K., Maneen, S., Kodom, R. V., Tsedze, I. S., Akoto, L. A., & Atsu, F. S. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3681615/v1
Yaqot, M., Menezes, B. C., Mohamed, A. S., Monloney, K., & Cochrane, L. (2023) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4669779
Managing the AI Period's Confluence of Security and Morality
Pandey, D., Jain, A., Suneetha, A., -, P. R. G., Sriramakrishnan, G. V., Gopi, A., & Pramanik, S. (2024) · Advances in business information systems and analytics book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-2643-5.ch003
Leesakul, N., Clos, J., & Hyde, R. (2024) · International Symposium on Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS) · doi:10.1145/3686038.3686047
Nikolinakos, N. T. (2024) · Law, governance and technology series · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-67969-8_4
Nikolinakos, N. T. (2024) · Law, governance and technology series · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-67969-8_3
Nikolinakos, N. T. (2024) · Law, governance and technology series · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-67969-8_6
Managing the AI Period's Confluence of Security and Morality
Pramanik, S. (2024) · Advances in marketing, customer relationship management, and e-services book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-3478-2.ch006
Some Critical Thoughts on Anthropomorphic Social Robot Design
Hildt, E. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009386708.020
Issues and Concerns for Human–Robot Interaction
Barfield, W., Weng, Y.-H., & Pagallo, U. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009386708.013
An Introduction to the Law, Policy, and Regulation for Human–Robot Interaction
Barfield, W., Weng, Y.-H., & Pagallo, U. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009386708.003
Liability Within the Wider Framework
Muftić, N. (2025) · European Union and its neighbours in a globalized world · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-86453-7_3
Anticipatory Regulation for Service Robotics Safety
Mut-Piña, A., & Fosch‐Villaronga, E. (2025) · Springer proceedings in advanced robotics · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-89471-8_28
Exploring ethical and social dimensions of healthcare robotics in patient centered care
Shobarani, R., Dhivya, P., Kavitha, R., & Priscilla, G. A. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-31624-1.00011-3
Innovating Early Career Guidance in West Africa: A Critical Review of AI-Driven Approaches
Edunetix, Eze, P., Ahmed, A., & Edunetix (2025) · doi:10.64553/bhhi8924
Through the Lens of OMRAEG: A Critical Review and Optimizing Roadmap for Robotic Emotion Generation
Jin, J. K., Wang, Z., Wang, Z., & Pei, G. (2025) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2025.2581856
Sustainability and Robotics: A Multidisciplinary Perspective
Shabana, S., Davidson, G. R., Lampropoulos, A., Artantas, O. C., Millar, G. M., & Donaldson, K. M. (2025) · Women in engineering and science · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-95890-8_3
Robotics and Automation in Healthcare Processes
Bhanja, S., -, S., Sharma, A., Sharma, A. M., Verma, A., & Sharma, S. (2025) · BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBLISHERS eBooks · doi:10.2174/9798898811594125010007
Access to Justice Through Artificial Intelligence: An Innovative Journey
Chandra, G., Namrta, N., & Singh, A. D. (2025) · IEEE International Conference on Advances in Computing Research on Science Engineering and Technology (ACROSET) · doi:10.1109/acroset66531.2025.11281075
Banzi, G. N. (2017) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3001804
Revolutionizing Neurosurgery and Orthopedics
Shahid, Z. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3373-2807-2.ch012
Legal Challenges of AI and AR in Governance
Farooqi, A. (2026) · Advances in computational intelligence and robotics book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3373-7804-6.ch005
Corporate Data Privacy Frameworks in the Age of Emerging Technologies
Malik, R., & Bhandari, R. (2026) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3373-4967-1.ch009
Fast and Precise: AI Medical Devices at the Intersection of Speed and Accuracy
Seth, R., Nagpal, M., Swami, R., & Kaur, M. (2026) · Current Pharmacology Reports · doi:10.1007/s40495-026-00450-5
La construction du droit de la santé numérique
Bastian, M. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/42887e92z8cc8z4dbez9e01z8d059f647b88
Robotic Systems in Precision Drug Delivery and Surgical Automation
Walia, J. K., Kaura, K., Rani, S., & Kaur, G. (2026) · Studies in big data · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-18871-7_9
Kazemi, Z., Park, J., & Srinivasan, D. (2026) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104808
Legal Positivism and Natural Law in the Age of Algorithms: Hart and Fuller in the Digital Frontier
Ikra, M., & Alabi, F. (2026) · International Journal of Law and Society · doi:10.11648/j.ijls.20260902.20
Harmonising automation: challenge-driven robotics and the making of Europe
Cuevas-Garcia, C., Lipp, B., Pepponia, F., & Baudrin, M. (2026) · Science as Culture · doi:10.1080/09505431.2026.2666074
Robotics in Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges for a Holistic Environmental Assessment
Angrisani, L., Chen, Z., Benedetto, E. D., Duraccio, L., Esposito, I., Huang, Z., Li, S., Regio, F. L., & Tedesco, A. (2025) · IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Sustainability (MetroSustainability) · doi:10.1109/metrosustainability67617.2025.11548134
Ethics, Governance, Risks, Compliance, and Sovereignty of AI for Cybersecurity
Ramachandran, M. (2026) · Texts in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-17367-6_16
Metadata
- Authors
- Leenes, R., Palmerini, E., Koops, B.-J., Bertolini, A., Salvini, P., & Lucivero, F.
- Affiliations
- Tilburg University (NL)
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (IT)
- King's College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Leenes, Ronald
- ORCID
- Venue
- Law, Innovation and Technology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-01-02
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-44
- ISSN
- 1757-9961 (ISSN-L)
- 1757-997X
- OpenAlex
- W2597726517
- Cited by
- 206
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 121.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Law Innovation and Technology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Research portal (Tilburg University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- SSRN Electronic Journal (submittedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- European Commission (289092)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Law › Digitalization, Law, and Regulation
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
- Social Sciences › Law › Literary and Philosophical Studies
- Keywords
- robotics regulation, legal and ethical issues, technological change, social norms, nudging, liability, privacy, autonomy, responsible research and innovation, smart regulation, soft law
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review