Autonomous weapons systems and their necessity for further regulations
Kärki, Teemu (2022-05-03)
Autonomous weapons systems and their necessity for further regulations
Kärki, Teemu
(03.05.2022)
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
suljettu
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on:
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2022060844167
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2022060844167
Tiivistelmä
This thesis focuses on the need for additional regulation for autonomous weapons systems. There is no explicit regulation concerning autonomous weapons systems. Attention is focused on the inclusion of human control at different stages of the use of the weapons system. The thesis reviews the definitions of autonomous weapons systems and gives examples of the current autonomous weapons systems. After this, focus will be on the rules of international humanitarian law that may cause problems when using autonomous weapons systems. Additionally, the concept of autonomy relating to autonomous weapons systems is thoroughly introduced. The rules in question include the principle of distinction, the principle of proportionality, the principle of superfluous injury and unnecessary suffering, and the Martens Clause. Finally, an assessment will be made of the assistance that human control could provide to the use of autonomous weapons systems so that they can more safely comply with the rules of war. The research method of the thesis is legal dogmatics, de lege lata and de lege ferenda.
The thesis concludes that in the case of autonomous weapon systems, the lack of a unanimous definition is a problem. This needs to be decided before new legislation can be enacted. As for compliance with the rules of war, it is not entirely clear how autonomous weapons systems can comply with them. Of particular concern are the principle of distinction and the principle of proportionality. The debate focused on autonomous weapons systems has been lively, especially since 2013, and to date 11 Guiding Principles have been established to provide a basis for the regulation of autonomous weapons systems. Human control can create additional conditions for compliance with the rules of war, but this is not a completely secure approach either. This is because people may rely too little on or too much on the information provided by the computer, and decisions based on it may lead to unwanted results. The current problem is not that no legislation can govern autonomous weapon systems. Instead, ways need to be found to make autonomous weapons systems more compliant with these rules.
The thesis concludes that in the case of autonomous weapon systems, the lack of a unanimous definition is a problem. This needs to be decided before new legislation can be enacted. As for compliance with the rules of war, it is not entirely clear how autonomous weapons systems can comply with them. Of particular concern are the principle of distinction and the principle of proportionality. The debate focused on autonomous weapons systems has been lively, especially since 2013, and to date 11 Guiding Principles have been established to provide a basis for the regulation of autonomous weapons systems. Human control can create additional conditions for compliance with the rules of war, but this is not a completely secure approach either. This is because people may rely too little on or too much on the information provided by the computer, and decisions based on it may lead to unwanted results. The current problem is not that no legislation can govern autonomous weapon systems. Instead, ways need to be found to make autonomous weapons systems more compliant with these rules.