WILPF has opposed war and the development of technologies of violence since our founding in 1915. We have consistently condemned military spending and militarism as a detriment to human life and wellbeing.
Our opposition to autonomous weapon systems and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the military, police, and border enforcement is grounded within our wider opposition to weapons, war, and violence. It is also grounded in our opposition to patriarchal, racist, and colonial power relations that are embedded within AI and other autonomous technologies.
The use of force has already become too disengaged from human involvement with the use of armed drones and other remote-controlled weapon systems. The use of autonomous weapons or AI will go even further, devolving life and death “decision-making” to software and sensors.
What Does WILPF Advocate For?
Governance is insufficient in the face of the profits and power that the developers of these technologies seek. Prohibition of autonomous weapon systems and of the military or police use of AI is the only responsible path for human and planetary well-being.
This is why WILPF joined the Stop Killer Robots campaign at its founding. WILPF’s disarmament programme Reaching Critical Will (RCW) served on the campaign’s steering committee for many years, and has engaged in advocacy and analysis at all UN meetings on autonomous weapons since they began.
In Geneva, the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems has met since 2014 to discuss how to regulate these technologies. While most countries have agreed that a global treaty prohibiting and restricting autonomous weapons is the best way forward, a handful have blocked any progress in the GGE. Most notably, these include Russia, Israel, the United States, Australia, the Republic of Korea, and India.
Initially, the work of the GGE was seen as preventative. We had a chance to ban killer robots before they began to do any harm. Now, we are already seeing AI being used by Israel to target and kill Palestinians. We are seeing police use AI to “predict” crime and immigration enforcement use it to deport immigrants. Increasingly, states are using AI to detect “sentiment” towards their governments online, and several are building autonomous weapon systems that can hunt and kill human beings around the world. Technology companies—from Big Tech to small start-ups—are profiting wildly from this race to build machines of death and destruction.
WILPF’s disarmament programme Reaching Critical Will (RCW) has produced many materials raising our concerns about autonomous weapons and the weaponsisation of AI. Most recently, we contributed input to the UN Secretary-General’s Report on Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain. We also have written papers about autonomous weapons and patriarchy and gender-based violence.
What Do We Need From the Informal Consultations?
The informal consultations on autonomous weapon systems in New York provide an opportunity to meet outside of the GGE. It will allow states that aren’t represented in Geneva to participate in the discussions.
It will also allow the examination of critical issues that are missing from the current debate at the GGE, including ethical considerations, human rights, use of autonomous weapons by non-state actors and police, and environmental concerns.
These consultations were mandated by the UN General Assembly. If they go well, it could open space to continue working to prohibit and restrict autonomous weapons and the military use of AI outside of the GGE. The UN General Assembly is not bound by consensus the way the GGE is—meaning no one can hold it hostage. This increases the possibility for progress and for the protection of humanity.
What is WILPF Doing at the Informal Consultations?
RCW will be active at the informal consultations on autonomous weapon systems!
We have published a preview edition of its AWS Diplomacy Report, which provides an overview of critical issues to be discussed at the consultations and recommendations for action. During the consultations, RCW will provide analysis—you can subscribe now to follow the action! We will post all documents, working papers, statements and other materials from the consultations on our website. And of course, we will be advocating for a ban on autonomous weapons and the military use of AI.
You can see RCW’s past coverage of discussions on autonomous weapons at the Group of Governmental Experts in Geneva. Don’t forget to check out RCW’s other materials about autonomous weapons and the weaponsisation of AI, including:
