UN stalls negotiations on autonomous weapons regulation

UN member states failed to agree on regulating ‘killer robots’ at the Review Conference of the Convention on ‘inhumane’ weapons. Instead, they agreed to continue discussions, Reuters reports.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and several non-governmental organisations pressed for the rules to be adopted. They argue that autonomous weapons heighten risks to civilians, raise accountability problems, and increase the chances of escalation.

“This is a real missed opportunity and, in our view, not what is needed to address the risks associated with autonomous weapons,” said Neil Davison, political adviser in the ICRC’s Legal Department.

Many countries also expressed disappointment with the outcome.

“The pace of technological development risks outpacing our discussions,” said Felix Baumann, Switzerland’s ambassador for disarmament.

Sources at the talks said that Russia, India and the United States were among the countries expressing doubts about the need for a new treaty.

Claire Conboy of the Stop Killer Robots campaign group said the outcome delighted a minority of militarised states investing in the development of this weapon.

She expects regulation advocates, such as New Zealand or Austria, to begin negotiations outside the UN.

Конвенция о «негуманном» weapons has 125 participants, including Russia, the United States and China. The eight-year talks gained new urgency after a March UN group report describing the first attack by autonomous drones in Libya.

Earlier, the UN secretary-general called for action against ‘killer robots’.

China supported the head of the organisation and was among the first to speak out against the use of AI in military purposes.

Subscribe to ForkLog’s Telegram news: ForkLog AI — all the news from the world of AI!