Killer Robots - Drone Strikes of the Future?
Published on Nov 23, 2012
"Despite a lack of public awareness and public debate a number of governments, including European states, are pushing forward with the development of fully autonomous weapons - also known as killer robots. These are weapon systems that will function without any human intervention. The armed robot itself will select its target and will determine when to fire. This is a frighteningly dangerous path to follow in terms of the need to protect civilians during armed conflict.
Killer robots would be unable to distinguish adequately between combatants and civilians in the increasingly complex circumstances of modern battlefields, and would be unable to make proper proportionality determinations. That is, whether the military advantages of an attack exceed the potential harm to civilians. Giving machines the power to decide who lives and dies on the battlefield would take technology too far. Killer robots would lack the human qualities necessary to protect civilians and comply with international humanitarian law. They would lack the ability to relate to humans and to apply human judgment."*
Ana Kasparian and John Iadarola (Host, TYT University) discuss the "killer robots"-- deadly autonomous weapons in development now. What will happen if these go unregulated? Will they become the drone warfare of the future?
*Read more from Steve Goose/ Human Rights Watch:
"The Future of Global Warfare: Killer Robots"
November 20, 2012