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Killer Robots

Fully autonomous weapons, also known as "killer robots," would be able to select and engage targets without meaningful human control. Precursors to these weapons, such as armed drones, are being developed and deployed by nations including China, Israel, South Korea, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. There are serious doubts that fully autonomous weapons would be capable of meeting international humanitarian law standards, including the rules of distinction, proportionality, and military necessity, while they would threaten the fundamental right to life and principle of human dignity. Human Rights Watch calls for a preemptive ban on the development, production, and use of fully autonomous weapons. Human Rights Watch is a founding member and serves as global coordinator of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots.

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  • Report

    Heed the Call

    A Moral and Legal Imperative to Ban Killer Robots

    Growing opposition to fully autonomous weapons from various quarters shows how the public conscience supports banning weapons systems that lack meaningful human control.
  • Report

    Making the Case

    The Dangers of Killer Robots and the Need for a Preemptive Ban

    As the debate about “killer robots” continues, the threat they pose looms large.
  • Report

    Mind the Gap

    The Lack of Accountability for Killer Robots

    The next generation of weapons in military arsenals could be "killer robots," machines that would select and destroy specific targets without further human intervention. But if a robot broke the law, who would be held responsible?

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