Isaac Asimov pondered a future world full of conscious, humanoid robots and invented an elegant solution to the potential dangers: Three absolute, interlocking behavioral imperatives programmed into the basic structure of the AI mind: The Three Laws of Robotics.
- A robot may not harm a human being, or through inaction allow a human being to come to harm.
- A robot will obey the orders of a human being, except where this would conflict with the First Law.
- A robot will protect its own survival, except where this would conflict with the First or Second Laws.
A corporation is, in essence, a machine. And like all machines, it can act only according to its programming: So if its one and only imperative is short-term, stock-driven profit, then it will naturally run roughshod over both the moral and rational priorities of human beings, endangering not only lives but civilization itself. I therefore propose The Four Laws of Corporatics as a fundamental restructuring of the relationship between society and corporations.
The Four Laws of Corporatics
- A corporation may not endanger humanity.
- A corporation may not subvert duly constituted political authority, provided this does not conflict with the First Law.
- A corporation may not endanger a human being without the informed consent of that person, provided this does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
- A corporation may not lie, deceive, or withhold non-proprietary information, provided this does not conflict with the First, Second, or Third Law.
Examples of violations:
First Law:
- Falsifying or manufacturing doubt about climate change research.
- Promoting arms races.
Second Law:
- Corruption of public officials, judges, and civil servants
- Attempting to influence elections
- Supporting coup d'etat.
- Encouraging conflicts of interest.
Third Law:
- Unethical drug trials
- Failing to report known dangers of a product.
Fourth law:
- Establishing front think tanks to sabotage scholarship.
- Falsifying or suppressing research.
- Distortion or falsification of news coverage.
- Cherry-picking research findings.
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Recommended consequences of violations:
First offense - The individual(s) responsible may no longer be employed by the corporation, sufficient rectifying action must be taken within a defined time period, and a fine paid equal to a specific multiple of the maximum possible financial benefit to the corporation of its offense. It will remain on corporate probation for a specific period of time. The corporation may not rehire those fired from it for Four Laws violations, nor may it hire anyone else during its probationary period that has ever been fired for a Four Laws violation.
Second offense - If a second offense occurs during a corporate probationary period, see "Third offense" below. If a second offense occurs after a probationary period, but within a specific time from the first offense, the individual(s) responsible and everyone directly above them up the chain of command to the CEO must be fired, sufficient rectifying action taken within a defined time period, and a fine paid equal to 100% of the preceding year's reported profits. It will once again be on probation, and the same hiring rules would apply as above.
Third (and last) offense - Committed within a specified time of the last two offenses or during a probationary period, the individual(s) responsible and their direct line of superiors up to the CEO will be immediately fired and indicted under RICO statutes, the corporate charter revoked, the assets liquidated, and the proceeds returned to investors minus expenses, debts, legal settlements, and a 50% fee on what remains, if anything.