UN and ICRC Urge Urgent Rules to Control AI-Based Autonomous Weapons

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations (UN) today, August 25, called for urgent discussions to begin on controlling the use of weapon systems that can automatically target and attack humans without direct human control, due to the risk that such weapons could be used in wars.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said in a joint statement that machines automatically targeting and attacking humans has reached a dangerous point where it risks crossing an ethical red line.

They therefore urged that discussions begin now to reach a legally binding agreement as quickly as possible, including clear prohibitions and restrictions on autonomous weapons systems.

Concerns over this issue have risen because semi-autonomous weapons based on AI technology are already being used in ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Iran, and the Gulf region.

Human rights organizations are also concerned that AI-based weapon systems cannot be accurately predicted or controlled, and may fail to distinguish between wounded soldiers and those who have surrendered, leading to grave errors such as wrongful killings.

They also pointed out that if such errors occur, it could become more difficult to identify and hold those responsible accountable in future war crimes tribunals.

The joint statement urged nations to make politically courageous and more effective decisions rather than merely reviewing and discussing step by step, and called on the UN and ICRC to begin those discussions at a conference to be held in Geneva in November.

Ref & Photo; Reuters