Lethal Autonomous Weapons and Modern Warfare: A Study of Ethical and Legal implications

Abstract

Emergence of new technologies has revolutionized the methods of warfare and the way battles are fought. Development and deployment of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWs) is an emerging trend in the modern warfare. LAWs use AI algorithms and advance sensors technology to detect, engage and attack the targets without intervention of humans. The delegation of power to use force and kill or destroy something in the hands of robots is in violation of human dignity. The use of lethal autonomous weapon systems poses real legal, ethical and security challenges. This study uses doctrinal methodology to provide an analysis of legal and ethical issues surrounding the use of autonomous weapons. The study analyses the ethical concern of assigning accountability and applicability of current legal regime and existing IHL principles on autonomous weapon system. This paper concludes that artificial intelligence has not yet reached the threshold that allows reliable deployment of LAWs without proper regulations and legal standards.