UN and Red Cross call for international rules on autonomous weapons systems
- The UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross have intensified their call for countries to adopt bans and restrictions on autonomous weapons systems, referred to as 'killer robots'.
- They warn that the risks associated with these systems have increased, although they do not confirm their current use in warfare.
- The organizations emphasize the need to protect civilians in anticipation of potential future use of such weapons.
- A conference in Geneva next month will address strengthening the existing Convention on Conventional Weapons, which could lead to binding legal rules on autonomous systems.
- The development of weapons technology is advancing rapidly, creating a gap between technological capabilities and regulatory frameworks.
GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday ratcheted up a joint call for countries to adopt bans and restrictions on use of autonomous weapons systems — often known as 'killer robots' — warning that 'the risks have intensified.'
Building on an initial appeal three years ago and international talks on the issue for years, the appeal stops short of calling for a blanket ban, but notes that such weapons systems are being developed — though the U.N. and Red Cross haven’t confirmed their use on the battlefield.
The organizations said, however, that civilians need to be protected for when that day may come. 'We are now dangerously close to crossing a moral red line: The autonomous targeting of humans by machines,' said U.N. Geneva spokesperson Alessandra Vellucci, reading a joint statement by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric.
The two international organizations say the development of weapons technology at 'record speed' has strained the international rules system, and widened the gap between technological capacities and regulatory constraints.
联合国与红十字会呼吁制定国际规则以规范自主武器系统
日内瓦（美联社）——联合国与国际红十字会周二加强了对各国采取禁令和限制自主武器系统（即“杀手机器人”）的联合呼吁，警告称“风险已加剧”。
这一呼吁是在三年前首次提出的基础上进行的，尽管没有呼吁全面禁令，但指出此类武器系统正在开发中——尽管联合国和红十字会尚未确认它们在战场上的使用情况。
然而，这些组织表示，必须保护平民，以应对未来可能使用此类武器的情况。联合国日内瓦发言人阿莱桑德拉·维卢奇表示：“我们现在正危险地接近越过道德红线：机器对人类的自主瞄准。”
这两个国际组织表示，武器技术以“创纪录的速度”发展，已经给国际规则体系带来了压力，并扩大了技术能力与监管约束之间的差距。