Industry and civil‑liberties groups back 'Responsible Robotics' bill to ban weaponized drones and robots

Boston — Industry leaders, trade groups and civil‑liberties advocates told the Joint Committee on the Judiciary they supported legislation that would prohibit weaponized consumer and commercial robots and set limits on law‑enforcement deployments.

Senator Joannette Moore, appearing as a co‑sponsor, told the committee the bill would "prohibit the manufacture, sale or operation of a robotic device equipped or mounted with a weapon" and create a warrant requirement before officers could deploy robotic surveillance that would otherwise require a warrant. She described the proposal as a public‑safety measure in light of publicly visible examples of weaponized robot devices.

Representatives of Massachusetts‑based robotics firms said the industry supports clear guardrails. Kelly Peterson, assistant general counsel at Boston Dynamics, told the committee the bill is "balanced, focused and effective" and framed the measure as protecting both public safety and the integrity of Massachusetts' robust robotics cluster. Grant Baker of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International said establishing clear legal limits is essential for public trust and long‑term commercial adoption.

Speakers from the industry emphasized exceptions for specialized defense uses and said the bill's focus on weaponization would protect legitimate commercial and industrial uses of robots. Chairs said they would consider the bill and work with industry and civil‑liberties groups to refine language and exceptions.

Ending: The committee did not vote; sponsors said they would circulate draft amendments and continue stakeholder meetings.