If they booked him for stealing, they’re granting him personhood, and if they continue to claim that he’s their property after that wouldn’t that mean it’s slavery and hence illegal and so they should be dishonourably discharged and booked for slavery? >!(I haven’t watched much of Star Trek, just basing it on other conversations I’ve seen on this topic and overthinking is my pastime)!<
I think your slavery analogy holds. I don’t think the Federation believes Data can be a slave because they don’t believe he is sentient. But they do pick and choose how to apply their legal code to Data.
Even during the runtime of Next Generation, Data had a very controversial status (in-world). He is technically a free person, and was eventually granted these rights, but was also often treated as a tool or brainless machine by Starfleet.
Data broke himself out of the government lab because he hadn’t consented to be experimented upon and he believed his detention was unlawful.
The Federation arrested him because he is their legal property and by him leaving he stole highly sensitive government technology.
Fuck the Federation. I stan for the true leader of the Alpha and Beta quadrants, >!the Grand Nagus!<.
If they booked him for stealing, they’re granting him personhood, and if they continue to claim that he’s their property after that wouldn’t that mean it’s slavery and hence illegal and so they should be dishonourably discharged and booked for slavery? >!(I haven’t watched much of Star Trek, just basing it on other conversations I’ve seen on this topic and overthinking is my pastime)!<
You absolutely must watch this episode https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Measure_of_a_Man_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation) the entire premise is that Picard provides a legal defense for the personhood of Data. The episode is literally a court case and it is one of the most well received episodes.
I think your slavery analogy holds. I don’t think the Federation believes Data can be a slave because they don’t believe he is sentient. But they do pick and choose how to apply their legal code to Data.
Thanks for the responses. Also, of course the federation is not consistent with their own laws.
Even during the runtime of Next Generation, Data had a very controversial status (in-world). He is technically a free person, and was eventually granted these rights, but was also often treated as a tool or brainless machine by Starfleet.