Proactive Privacy Communication Design for Emotional Robots

This chapter discusses a proactive approach to privacy communication and emotional robots, which are becoming an important part of human–machine interaction. These robots use emotional AI and are able to recognize and respond to human emotions. While there are many benefits associated with the mainstreaming of robotics, there are also significant personal data and privacy concerns involved in the use of emotional AI and robots. As a result, several initiatives to regulate the use of (emotional) AI have been made. This chapter argues that in addition to regulation, a proactive approach to privacy communication is needed in order for users of emotional robots to give consent to the collection of personal data. Tools based on the proactive approach and information design research and methods—multichannel communication, plain language, tone of voice, visualization and tailoring—make it possible to communicate personal data and privacy choices effectively to users: when robots communicate clearly through speech, gestures and screens, even less motivated users can make informed choices about whether to give their consent to the processing of their personal data. In addition, these tools make communication more effective, comprehensible and engaging for the user. The goal is that anyone who interacts with robots can do it safely and by making informed choices.