Buyer's guide · Robot privacy
Robot Privacy for Businesses and Government: What Robots Collect and How to Vet a Vendor
Do humanoid and service robots record video and audio? Most use cameras, depth sensors and often microphones to see and navigate, and some can store or send that data to the vendor's cloud. What is kept, for how long, and who can see it depends on the model and settings, so buyers should ask the vendor and set data controls before deployment.
The good news: privacy is a setup step, not a roadblock. With the right questions up front, operations, IT, security and procurement teams can approve a robot deployment with confidence. This guide covers what a robot's sensors collect, where that data can go, a vendor checklist you can print, and the New York rules and frameworks worth knowing.
What a robot's sensors collect
Robots need to sense the world to move safely and do useful work. Here is what is typically on board, why it's there, and what to check.
| Sensor or data | Why the robot needs it | Privacy setting to check |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras (color video) | Seeing obstacles, objects, people and signage | Is video stored or only processed live? Can faces be blurred? How long is footage kept? |
| Depth sensors / LiDAR | Measuring distance and navigating safely | Usually low-sensitivity, but confirm whether scans are uploaded |
| Microphones | Voice commands and conversation features | Can audio be turned off? Is a wake word required? Are recordings kept? |
| Maps and location | Building a map of your floor plan to navigate | Where is the map stored, and who can access your layout? |
| Logs and telemetry | Performance, diagnostics and battery health | What is sent to the vendor, and is it tied to people or only the machine? |
| Teleoperation / remote support video | Letting a technician help or guide the robot remotely | Who can connect, does your team approve each session, and is it logged? |
Where the data goes
Robot data generally lives in one or more of three places:
- On the device. Many tasks can be processed locally on the robot, which keeps data inside your building.
- The vendor's cloud. Some features, such as fleet dashboards, AI updates or analytics, send data to servers the vendor runs or rents.
- Apps and integrations. Phone apps and connections to your own systems can move data too.
Remote support and teleoperation, plus over-the-air software updates, are the other paths to understand. For each one, ask where the data is stored and processed, how long it is kept, and how you can delete it.
Robot vendor privacy and security checklist
Use these questions in your vendor review or security questionnaire. Print this page or copy the list into your procurement file.
- Data inventory: What data does the robot collect, by sensor and feature?
- Controls: Which sensors and recording features can we turn off, and what retention settings can we set?
- Encryption: Is data encrypted in transit and at rest?
- Access and logs: Who at the vendor can access our data or the robot, and are those accesses logged and available to us?
- Remote access approval: Can we require our approval before any remote or teleoperation session?
- Firmware and updates: How are security updates delivered, how often, and for how many years is the model supported?
- Breach notification: How quickly will you notify us of a security incident, and what does the contract say?
- Deletion at end of contract: How is our data, including maps, deleted when we stop using the robot or return it?
- Data location: Where is our data stored and processed?
- Subprocessors: Which third parties handle our data, and will you tell us when that list changes?
- Hardware supply chain: Is the brand or any component on the FCC Covered List? Public agencies in particular should check.
- Security contact: Who do we contact with a security question or report?
Rules and frameworks to know in New York
- NY SHIELD Act (General Business Law §899-bb). Organizations that hold private information about New York residents are expected to keep reasonable safeguards, including selecting capable service providers, requiring safeguards by contract, and disposing of data securely. Read §899-bb.
- NIST Privacy Framework 1.1. A voluntary structure that helps organizations identify and manage privacy risk, useful as a backbone for your robot review. See NIST's page.
- Schools and colleges. Education settings in New York have additional student-data rules, such as Education Law §2-d, so involve your data protection officer early.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Please review your specific deployment with your counsel.
A responsible-deployment plan
- Start with a pilot. Try the robot in one area with a clear task and a short review period.
- Set privacy settings at install. Turn off what the task doesn't need and set retention before day one.
- Post clear notice. Simple signage lets staff and visitors know a robot with cameras is working in the space.
- Train your team. Show staff how the robot works, what it collects and who to ask with questions.
- Review regularly. Check settings, access logs and updates on a schedule.
How Fembot Electric helps
Fembot Electric helps businesses and public agencies in New York choose, power and set up the right robot, including configuring privacy settings during setup so your team starts with a clean, well-documented configuration. We are a NYS-certified Women-owned Business Enterprise. Learn more about us.
Frequently asked questions
Do humanoid and service robots record video and audio?
Most use cameras, depth sensors and often microphones to see and navigate, and some can store or send that data to the vendor's cloud. What is kept, for how long, and who can see it depends on the model and settings, so buyers should ask the vendor and set data controls before deployment.
How do you deploy a robot responsibly?
Collect only the data the task needs, turn off recording that isn't required, keep data local or in a vetted cloud, control remote access, post clear notice where the robot works, and put the vendor's data duties in the contract. Frameworks like NIST's Privacy Framework and New York's SHIELD Act safeguards give a ready checklist.
Can we turn a robot's microphone off?
It depends on the model. Many robots let you disable audio or limit it to specific features, while others need the microphone for voice commands. Ask the vendor which sensors can be switched off and confirm the setting during installation.
Is robot data covered by New York law?
If a robot's systems store private information about New York residents, the SHIELD Act (GBL §899-bb) expects reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards, including vendor oversight and secure disposal. Have your counsel review your specific setup.