THE LAWS

A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

If it hurts someone, U.S. courts still treat it as a product. Defect, failure to warn, design. No special humanoid statute.

Consumer Product Safety Commission covers household goods. Robot vacuums and toys already live here. Humanoids will too when they sell as consumer goods.

Robotaxis are vehicles. FMVSS. Tesla Cybercab certification is an open NHTSA file (AQ26002 as of Sept 2026).

July 28, 2026: foreign-made advanced robots added to the Covered List. New humanoids, quadrupeds, and many connected home robots need authorization to be imported or sold new. Gear already authorized can still ship.

Cabin cams and home cams collect video and audio. CCPA/CPRA in California. COPPA if a child is in the room. Read the maker’s privacy page before you plug it in.

COPPA: verifiable parental consent under 13. A home robot with a mic and a camera is a data collector, not a nanny cam with a pass.

The existing personal-care robot safety standard. Personal care robots, not a U.S. criminal code.