The ICRC magazine Red Cross Red Crescent Issue 1. 2014 provides a view of where we are now and where we might be going in our collectively insane path to where robots are intended to kill us on our little planet.
The kind of lethal future we have been cobbling together lately is discussed in a 9-part sequence of short videos in which is constituted a panel discussion, seen in the first 4-parts, 25-03-2014 of "New technologies and the modern battlespace: Humanitarian perspectives". The other 5-parts are together an introductory experience of this ICRC Research & Debate Cycle that runs from March to June 2014, as public events (the Humanitarium in Geneva and elsewhere), with a view to addressing the novel humanitarian, legal and ethical challenges posed by new technologies.
States have just now begun to explore the fundamental legal, ethical and societal issues raised by autonomous weapon systems in the CCW Meeting of Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) that took place from 13 to 16 May 2014 (click thru to the Agenda). There are many great resources to accelerate one's learning curve on this "new" issue.
Apr 10, 2014 was the 2nd event of the ICRC Research & Debate Cycle that runs through June. "Autonomous Weaponry and Armed Conflict" (video here) was presented by International Law Association (ILA) and American Society of International Law (ASIL).
April 24, 2014 was the 3rd ICRC event: "Humanitarian Assistance Webcast: New Warfare Technologies, New Protection Challenges" (click thru & scroll down) presented by Advanced Training on Humanitarian Action (ATHA).
The 4th ICRC event was April 25, 2014 was "Internet in bello: International humanitarian law and cyber operations" (click tru here), presented by ICRC.
Coming livestream on May 27, 2014 (6pm-AEST which is 3am US-CDT & 1am US-PDT admission tickets for Melbourne are here)) is the next ICRC event "New Technologies and the Future Battlefield" (livestream here) about soldier enhancement that is no longer the realm of science fiction. The event sponsors have asked "How will physical and cognitive enhancement technologies, DNA-hacking, gene therapies, and human-machine interfaces change the face of war?"
ICRC's 6th event, scheduled for June 24, is a Webinar on Technological Innovation and Principled Humanitarian Action. Plus, learn more at http://www.redcross.int/... including the Red Cross Red Crescent questions asking, "Does virtual war needs rules?"
Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and so-called "Limited"-LAWS (LLAWS) are also called Lethal Autonomous Robotics (LARs) that carry a widely used definition (endorsed inter alia by the United States Department of Defense (p.13) and also by Human Rights Watch). The term LARs referring to robotic weapon systems that, once activated, can select and engage targets without further intervention by a human operator. The important element is that the robot has an autonomous “choice” regarding selection of a target and the use of lethal force. On 9 April 2013 the U.N. Human Rights Council, 23rd session (Agenda item 3, Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development) was told, "They raise far-reaching concerns about the protection of life during war and peace. This includes the question of the extent to which they can be programmed to comply with the requirements of international humanitarian law and the standards protecting life under international human rights law. Beyond this, their deployment may be unacceptable because no adequate system of legal accountability can be devised, and because robots should not have the power of life and death over human beings. The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, recommends that States establish national moratoria on aspects of LARs, and calls for the establishment of a high level panel on LARs to articulate a policy for the international community on the issue."
Here is a presentation by Deputy Director and Distinguished Professor, Center for Cyber Studies, US Naval Academy and a retired U.S. Navy Captain. The issue is a lot bigger than “the Pope and the crossbow” controversies that fueled the enactment of Second Lateran Council (1139 A.D.) Cannon 29: “We prohibit under anathema that murderous art of crossbowmen and archers, which is hateful to God, to be employed against Christians and Catholics from now on.”
I don't think there is good future in having killer robots-LAWS-LLAWS-LARs or whatever people will call them next.