Autonomous weapons:

the lawfulness of the system under international law

  • Gabriel Oliveira Borba Centro Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil.
Keywords: Autonomous Weapons., Artificial Intelligence, International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, Martes Clause

Abstract

Within the next few years, autonomous weapons will be the primary discussion under international law. Although machinery functioning with artificial intelligence seems to be a dream, utilizing the technology in armed conflicts can be dangerous to civilians. One of the main issues of autonomous weapons is the lack of understanding concerning its scope. Thus, it prevails a need to analyze how the system will comply with the law and inquire if the current law framework is capable to protect humans from machines. This paper examines the lawfulness of those kinds of weapons, utilizing as methodology international law treaties and judicial decisions. Calling into question the validity of its use by state governments.

Author Biography

Gabriel Oliveira Borba, Centro Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil.
Bacharel em Direito, pela Faculdade de Ciências Jurídicas e Sociais, do Centro Universitário de Brasília (UNICEUB). E-mail: <borba.gabriel@hotmail.com>. ORCID: < https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8742-672X>.   

 

References

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. Autonomous Weapons Systems: Five Key Human Rights Issues For Consideration. London: Amnesty International, 2015.

BEARD, Jack. Autonomous Weapons and Human Responsibilities. Georgetown Journal of International Law 617, June 2014.

DOCHERTY, Bonnie. Losing Humanity: The Case Against Killer Robots. Geneva, Human Rights Watch, 2012.

GENEVA ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS. Autonomous weapon systems under international law. Geneva: Academy Briefing; No. 8, 2014.

HEYNS, Christof. Autonomous weapons in armed conflict and the right to a dignified life: an African perspective. South African Journal on Human Rights, vol. 33, issue 1, p. 46-71, abr. 2017

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. Heed the call: A moral and legal imperative to ban killer robots. New York: Human Rights Watch, 2018

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC). Autonomous weapon systems: Technical, military, legal and humanitarian aspects. Expert meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 26-28 March 2014.

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC). Ethics and Autonomous Weapons Systems: An Ethical Basis for Human Control?. Geneva: ICRC, 2018.

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC). Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I). Geneva: ICRC,1977.

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE. Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion. ICJ Reports, 1996

JOHNSON, James . Is the US losing the artificial intelligence arms race?. The Conversation, oct. 29 2019. Available in:<https://theconversation.com/is-the-us-losing-the-artificial-intelligence-arms-race-124969>.

PANDYA, Jayshree ; COGNITIVE WORLD. The Weaponization Of Artificial Intelligence. Forbes, jan. 14 2019. Available in: <https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/01/14/the-weaponization-of-artificial-intelligence/#49b3caad3686>.

SHARKEY, Amanda. Autonomous Weapons Systems, Killer Robots and Human Dignity. Ethics and Information Technology, Dec.2018.

SHAW, Malcon. International Law. Sixth Edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.

UK MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. Joint Doctrine Note 2/11: The UK Approach to Unmanned Aircraft Systems. JDN 2/11, march 2011.

UN COUNCIL ON HUMAN RIGHTS. The Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Mr. Christof Heyns. Geneva: Un Council, 2014.

UN Human Rights Committee (HRC). CCPR General Comment No. 29: Article 4: Derogations during a State of Emergency. Geneva: HRC, 2001.

UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE (HRC). CCPR General Comment No. 6: Article 6 (Right to Life). Geneva: HRC,1982

UNITED NATIONS. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). UN, 1966.

UNITED NATIONS. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UN, 1948.

Published
2020-06-30
How to Cite
BORBA, G. O. Autonomous weapons: : the lawfulness of the system under international law. Cadernos Eletrônicos Direito Internacional sem Fronteiras, v. 2, n. 1, p. e20200113, 30 Jun. 2020.