An important step has been taken to regulate lethal autonomous weapons. The United Nations reaches consensus on the text.
Quick Look
128 UN member states reached consensus on a text defining lethal autonomous weapons systems, the Dutch foreign minister announced the results of the agreement, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that unbinding would bring legal and moral humanitarian challenges, the Stop Killer Robots campaign accused the United States, Russia and their allies of trying to weaken the consensus, and the CCW will decide in November whether to push for an international treaty.
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Why It Matters
At present, some countries are developing and using weapons that can independently select targets and strike without human intervention. The International Committee of the Red Cross warns that failure to restrain them will bring serious legal, moral and humanitarian challenges.
An important step has been taken to regulate lethal autonomous weapons. The United Nations reaches consensus on the text.
128 United Nations member states today reached consensus on a text defining "Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems" (LAWS), taking an important step toward discussing the development of an international treaty regulating such weapons.
Agence France-Presse reported that the text has not yet been made public, but advocacy groups following the progress of the negotiations have criticized major countries for being slow to act on related issues; critics have called LAWS a "killer robot."
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Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen announced today that 128 countries have reached an agreement. The Netherlands is responsible for hosting relevant consultations.
At present, some countries are developing and using weapons that can independently select targets and strike without human intervention.
However, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned in a statement: "Unrestrained development and use of autonomous weapons systems will pose serious legal, ethical and humanitarian challenges."
The International Committee of the Red Cross and various advocacy groups have called on countries to develop legally binding international norms to limit and regulate the use of such weapons.
Nicole van Rooijen, chief executive of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, accused the United States, Russia and their allies of trying to weaken the consensus text.
Lex International, a Geneva-based charity group, also criticized the stance of some countries and said that the United States, Russia, India and Israel were the main opponents of the relevant negotiations.
United Nations member states will decide at the Convention on Certain Traditional Weapons (CCW) meeting in November whether to promote the development of an international treaty regulating such weapons. (Compiled by: Hong Peiying) 1150906
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
CCW will decide at November meeting whether to push for an international treaty regulating lethal autonomous weapons
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- When will a legally binding international treaty be negotiated?
- Will the main opposition countries change their position in the future?
- How would the treaty define and ban specific types of lethal autonomous weapons?
