Humanoid robots and the law - preparing for a new era of risk

With humanoid robots expected to enter homes in 2026, it is clear that these machines have evolved from experimental technology into commercially viable products. Their arrival, however, will create unprecedented legal, regulatory and ethical challenges that businesses must be prepared to navigate as adoption grows.

1. Safety and liability

Humanoid robots introduce new forms of physical safety risk. Real‑world incidents - such as reports of a robot malfunctioning and striking a refrigerator, narrowly missing an employee - highlight why many manufacturers remain cautious about early release. Some companies, such as 1X Technologies, have deliberately limited their robots’ physical capabilities by restricting their ability to handle heavy, sharp or hot objects. However, even with robust safety‑by‑design measures, risk cannot be eliminated entirely - just as modern safety systems cannot remove all risks associated with driving a car.

Against this backdrop, a fundamental legal question emerges:

Who is responsible if a robot causes harm - the manufacturer, the operator, or the software provider?

Current product liability laws provide some guidance, but as robots evolve towards more autonomous decision making, new layers of complexity emerge.

2. Autonomy and accountability

Most humanoids today are remotely operated rather than autonomous - a common misconception. Although long term ambitions target autonomy levels of 99% or above, the timeline for achieving this remains uncertain. If, or when, this shift does occur, assigning responsibility for robot made decisions will become significantly more complex.

Ongoing legal reforms in the UK and EU are beginning to address these gaps, but businesses deploying humanoid systems will require strong governance, clear documentation and robust safety controls to mitigate potential liability. A clear contractual allocation of responsibility between developers, integrators and end users will become increasingly important.

3. Data privacy and facial recognition

To interact naturally with people, humanoid robots rely heavily on visual data: reading facial expressions, interpreting gestures and recognising emotional cues. This functionality, however, may lead to tension with strict data protection regimes such as GDPR.

Key risks will include:

• how facial and biometric data is processed;

• where such data is stored or transmitted; and

• whether cloud service providers share responsibility for safeguarding this data.

Businesses will need to establish lawful data collection practice, implement privacy by design principles and provide transparent user safeguards to remain compliant.

4. Workforce and economic impact

Homes provide highly varied, unstructured human environments, offering manufacturers invaluable training data. This will accelerate the development of more advanced workplace robots, and once adapted for industrial tasks, may lead to humanoids being capable of replacing certain human jobs. Although critics argue that robots cannot replicate empathy or nuanced judgment, many organisations may still prioritise efficiency, consistency and cost savings.

5. Global divergence

Regulatory approaches are shaping a significant technological divide.

• China and parts of the Middle East are accelerating robot deployment, facing fewer regulatory constraints and lower levels of public resistance.

• Western jurisdictions, by contrast, may adopt more slowly due to stricter privacy laws, stronger labour protections and more cautious public sentiment.

This divergence could quite easily shift competitive advantage towards Eastern markets with faster rollout and more permissive regulatory environments

6. Ethics and public trust

Humanoid robots raise important ethical concerns around surveillance, emotional dependence, dignity and bias - particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and disabled individuals. Misinterpretation of human expressions can also lead to discriminatory or inappropriate responses.

Businesses that adopt transparent and ethically grounded strategies early will be well placed to build public trust in what is likely to become a highly scrutinised market.

7. Outlook

Predictions of rapid humanoid adoption are likely optimistic. As with autonomous vehicles, uptake will be gradual. Regulation will continue to tighten locally whilst diverging internationally. Businesses that prepare early, prioritise compliance and embed ethical considerations into their strategies will be best positioned to lead in this emerging market.

Hill Dickinson has teamed up with STIQ Robotics for their regular Robotics and Automation networking events. The next event is on 19 May 2026 and details can be found here.

This article was co-authored by Trainee, Alexander McKinney.