News

7 to 1 A response
by Katya Rukowski

Conscience -- A Useful British Export

Members of the Tom Paine Society (London and Cambridge branches) have been following the rumors about Mann II with interest. Would there be any interest in convening in the Metropolis in the next couple of weeks to consider the situation over a few ethically robust pints? Relying on unaided Americans to do what is obviously right and just seems a dodgy proposition. Worth a get-together? If so, give a shout in the usual quarters, and we'll try to make it happen.

URGENT!

In the present highly-charged atmosphere, the death of engineer Evan Chan has become a lightning-rod for debate on the issue of Sentient Property rights. Because a Belladerma robot was allegedly used to kill Chan, anti-robot extremists have seized on the case to try and sway popular opinion against AIs.

Please help bring the truth to light. If you have recently begun to follow the Chan case, Emancipation For All strongly recommends that you visit 'SphereWatch' a CRF-affiliated organization dedicated to uncovering the truth about SP and AI-related crime.

You know this case won't get a fair hearing at the SPCB. We need you to bring the truth to light.

ROBOCIDES ON RISE

Antirobot vandalism has risen almost 300% in the last calendar year. There has been a 97% increase in irrecoverable robot terminations by non-owners. By contrast, confirmed robot inflicted harm on humans, so-called "robot rampage," was down 3%, although complaints of robot inflicted harm was up 137%, a discrepancy apparently caused by short human tempers and decreased tolerance of robots, rather than actual robot behavior. Even more disturbingly, the tide of autodeactivations, or "robot suicides" increased this year by 65%. According to statistics released by the Sentient Property Crime Bureau this week, self-inflicted robot damage is up 110%.

Corporate roboticists are "at a loss to explain the increase in autodeactivation despite increased safeguards against self-inflicted harm." There are none so blind as they that will not see.

No particular model or manufacturer is notably prone to self-destructive behavior, although the suicide rate is highest in AIs with "simulated" (!) emotional responses. Dr. Jeanine Salla, whose faculty chair at BWU-NY is sponsored by a robot manufacturer-did go so far as to observe that the highest suicide rates occur among robots with programmed loyalties to owners who deliberately damage them.

Dr. Salla, having taken her thirty pieces of silver, did not draw the obvious analogy to child abuse. We do.

KATYA RUKOWSKI SPEAKS AT HOLLYWOOD AI EMANCIPATION FUND RAISER

Noted Robots Rights advocate Katya Rukowski was the main speaker at the 3rd Annual Emancipation For All fund-raising dinner and ball last night in Los Angeles. Dozens of entertainment personalities attended, including director Steve Blohm and actress Selena Jackson. While the controversial Geri Khan passed on the event, Rukowski's brother Pavel, who is an outspoken critic of "hypocrisy in the entertainment business," braved the crowd (and received a relatively warm response). The fundraiser was considered a great success, raising over $1 million for the Emancipation movement.

Rukowski praised directors who refuse to convert to all-robot or AI model casts, and criticized the use of robots in the sex film genre and stunt extra field. Although not every point drew applause, Ms. Rukowski was given a standing ovation-by Talent, if not by Management-at the end of her speech.

Ms. Rukowski, the founder of Emancipation For All, has traveled extensively to increase awareness about the Emancipation movement. Her activities are estimated to have raised over $10 billion worldwide.

ROBOPHOBIC ATTACKS KILL 10,000 AIS THIS YEAR

The SPCB reports that humans killed 10,302 robots in 2141. While many of these attacks can be directly or indirectly tied to the radical Anti-Robot Militia (ARM), a considerable number of slayings can be attributed to anti-robot individuals acting out of bias against sentient property. This is up from the 4,532 AI killings in 2140. Oh, sorry-did we say "killing"? The police phrase is "damaged beyond repair." According to the SPCB, robophobia-an irrational fear and hatred of robots-afflicts as much as 5% of the US population. Severity ranges from a marked dislike for all intelligent life, all the way to full-blown delusional paranoia of the ARM type. We feel sorry for these people. That does not mean we can let them drive our nation's political or spiritual agenda.