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 |  |  | |  | | Press release, 11 November 2015 |  | For immediate release |  | | |
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Reviewing the legality of autonomous weapons, a significant technical challenge requiring more interstate cooperation, says SIPRI in a new report ahead of key UN meeting in Geneva (Stockholm/Geneva, 11 November 2015)—a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) outlines challenges related to the legal review of weapons that contain autonomous features, and argues for greater cooperation and information-sharing between states. The report, to be launched tomorrow at the United Nations office in Geneva, aims to feed into ongoing discussions on lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). | |
Informal talks on LAWS have taken place within the framework of the CCW for the past two years. This report, launched on the day states parties to the CCW are to decide whether they are ready to engage in more formal discussions on this topic, reiterates the importance of conducting weapon reviews, and also identifies the current limitations of such mechanisms when it comes to ensuring that weapons with autonomous features are acquired and used in a way that is compatible with the requirements of international law.
Weapon reviews: a vital step to ensure compliance with international law
Article 36 of Additional Protocol I of the 1949 Geneva Conventions imposes an obligation on states to conduct a process, often referred to as a ‘weapon review’, to assess the lawfulness of the procurement of all new weapons. LAWS, like any other weapon, should go through such a process. Weapon reviews are therefore crucial to ensuring that autonomous weapon systems are developed, produced, fielded and used in compliance with international law.
‘The problem is that only a very limited number of states—fewer than 20—are known to have a formal weapon review mechanism in place’, says Dr Vincent Boulanin, a researcher at SIPRI, who produced the report. ‘This undermines the ability of the international community to control the weaponization of increasingly autonomous technologies.’
Technical challenges posed by weapon reviews
The report also finds that reviewing the lawfulness of autonomous weapons can prove to be a significant technical challenge that necessitates substantial technical expertise and financial resources.
‘Predicting the compliance of autonomous systems with international law requires complex procedures capable not only of assessing how a weapon will perform, but also of evaluating the potential risks associated with an unintended loss of control due to systems failure, a cyber-attack or an unforeseen reaction by the system’, says Boulanin. ‘Moreover, as it stands, a reliable method for testing and evaluating the performance of, and risks posed by, the most complex autonomous systems is still to be found.’
‘This technical challenge is all the more problematic as states are unequally equipped to deal with it’, explains Boulanin. ‘Some might lack the practical experience, the technical expertise or financial resources to implement adequate technical evaluations to support the legal review process.’
Information-sharing initiatives should be encouraged
The report includes a series of practical recommendations for the legal review of weapons that contain automated or autonomous features. It also makes clear that it is essential to create the conditions necessary for more widespread implementation of weapon reviews. According to the report, information-sharing initiatives are key to this and should be supported within the framework of the CCW.
‘Increased transparency on weapon review procedures could become a virtuous circle in many regards’, says Boulanin. ‘It would allow states to demonstrably prove their commitment to legal compliance and would also be of assistance to states that are seeking to set up or improve their weapon review mechanisms. In addition, it could contribute to the development of points of guidance for the implementation of weapon reviews, which would strengthen international confidence in such mechanisms.’
‘SIPRI is committed to supporting greater cooperation and transparency in the area of weapon reviews and, together with the International Committee of the Red Cross, is always willing to help states to meet these goals,’ concludes Boulanin.
For editors
Download the Insights Paper ‘Implementing Article 36 weapon reviews in the light of increasing autonomy in weapon systems’ by Dr Vincent Boulanin at http://bit.ly/1WLdgZ4.
The report presents the author’s key takeaways from an expert seminar convened by SIPRI in Stockholm on 29–30 September 2015. The seminar and the research on the issue were supported by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.
The author, Dr Vincent Boulanin (France/Sweden), is a researcher at SIPRI. He works on issues related to the production, use and control of emerging military and security technologies, notably cyber-surveillance and autonomous weapon systems. He received his PhD in political science from École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris in October 2014.
For information and interview requests contact Stephanie Blenckner, blenckner@sipri.org, +46 8 655 97 47 or Kate Sullivan, sullivan@sipri.org, +46 766 286 171
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public. SIPRI is named as one of the world's leading think tanks according to the international 'Think Tank Index'.
www.sipri.org | |
| RELATED PUBLICATION |  | |
Implementing Article 36 weapon reviews in the light of increasing autonomy in weapon systems | SIPRI Insights on Peace and Security
No 2015/1
November 2015
Article 36 of Additional Protocol I of the 1949 Geneva Conventions requires states to conduct legal reviews of all new weapons, means and methods of warfare in order to determine whether their use is prohibited by international law. However, reviewing the legality of weapons with automated and autonomous features presents a number of technical challenges. Such reviews demand complex procedures to test weapon performance and to evaluate the risks associated with unintended loss of control. As such assessments require significant technical and financial resources, there is a strong incentive for deepening cooperation and information sharing between states in the a rea of weapon reviews. Increased interaction can facilitate the identification of best practices and solutions to reduce costs associated with test and evaluation procedures.
Download the publication. |  | | | |
| Contact SIPRI Communications Director Stephanie Blenckner for further information, phone: +46 8 655 97 47. | |
© SIPRI 2015. Contact SIPRI by email: sipri@sipri.org; telephone: +46 8/655 97 00; fax: +46 8/655 97 33;
or post: SIPRI, Signalistgatan 9, SE-169 70 Solna, Sweden, or visit us online at www.sipri.org
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