Killer Robots

Introducing Guiding Principles for the Development and Use of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems

The Guiding Principles are a starting point for discussing how autonomous weapons might be somewhat constrained and what ‘good’ practice might look like.

A Critique of the Canberra Guiding Principles on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems

Thompson Chengeta • Apr 15 2020 • Articles

With the current banphobia in Geneva, it is important note that those who seek a regulation, maintenance of human control over LAWS or a ban seek the same thing.

Historical and Contemporary Reflections on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems

John R. Emery • Apr 15 2020 • Articles

Technology offers military decision-makers an alluring appeal to technological fixes to ethico-political dilemmas of killing in war.

Technological Terror, Killer Robots, and Black Mirror’s ‘Metalhead’

Raluca Csernatoni • Apr 13 2018 • Articles

A world that emphasizes the role of efficiency-driven technological solutions could produce a universe in which humanity is terrorized by its own technological offspring.

Like Drone Strikes, ‘Eye in the Sky’ Is Much Less Accurate than Claimed

Alex Edney-Browne • May 25 2016 • Articles

Eye in the Sky fails to explore the real utilitarian calculations, and ethical concerns, of the US Coalition drone programme.

Technological Innovation and Diffusion: Consequences for IR

Alexander D. Barder • Dec 30 2015 • Articles

Humanity is increasingly going to be faced with technological changes that challenge politics and law at every level. It is unclear whether existing institutions will be able to cope.

Hybridity and Humility: What of the Human in Posthuman Security?

Elke Schwarz • Dec 20 2015 • Articles

The speculative nature of posthumanism requires that we have some sense of imagination as to how our humanity might comprehensively be affected by technology.

The Peloponnesian War and Killer Robots: Norms of Protection in Security Policy

Matthew Bolton and Cayman Mitchell • Aug 29 2014 • Articles

We need not be grateful for the ‘protection’ of killer robots; we may instead mimic Lysistrata and humanize the very structure of protection in the 21st century.

The Ethics of Killer Robots

Ryan Jenkins • Jul 23 2014 • Articles

As the line between peace and war further blurs, autonomous weapons offer clear advantages while simultaneously raising powerful, but somewhat nebulous, moral concerns.

War from a Distance: The Ethics of Killer Robots

Mark Coeckelbergh • Jun 16 2014 • Articles

Using robots for targeted killing raises the question if this practice counts as “war”. Deciding about killer robots means deciding about the future of war and killing.

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