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Fully autonomous weapons, also known as "killer robots," would be able to select and engage targets without human intervention. Fully autonomous weapons do not exist yet, but they are being developed by several countries and precursors to fully autonomous weapons have already been deployed by high-tech militaries. Some experts predict that fully autonomous weapons could be operational in 20 to 30 years. These weapons would be incapable of meeting international humanitarian law standards, including the rules of distinction, proportionality, and military necessity. The weapons would not be constrained by the capacity for compassion, which can provide a key check on the killing of civilians. Fully autonomous weapons also raise serious questions of accountability because it is unclear who should be held responsible for any unlawful actions they commit. Human Rights Watch calls for a preemptive prohibition on the development, production, and use of fully autonomous weapons.
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The United Kingdom’s Taranis combat aircraft, whose prototype was unveiled in 2010, is designed to strike distant targets, “even in another continent.” While the Ministry of Defence has stated that humans will remain in the loop, the Taranis exemplifies the move toward increased autonomy.© 2010 AP Photo
Reports
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The Case against Killer Robots
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Abusive Military Crackdown in Response to Security Threats in Côte d’Ivoire
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Attacks on Civil Society Activists in India’s Maoist Conflict
Arms
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Dec 20, 2012
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Dec 12, 2012
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Dec 7, 2012
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Nov 27, 2012
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Nov 22, 2012
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Nov 20, 2012
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Nov 19, 2012
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Nov 19, 2012
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Nov 16, 2012
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Nov 15, 2012







