This week members and friends of the UK Campaign to Stop Killer Robots – technology experts and engineers, international lawyers and human rights advocates, academics and individuals of conscience – have written to the UK Government regarding Israel’s devastating attacks on Palestine.
In our capacity as UK organisations, academics and individuals with expertise in autonomous weapons systems, we have been assessing the Israeli Defence Force’s (IDF) use of military artificial intelligence (AI) and the role played by the UK in helping facilitate Israeli operations. We have been concerned by the global trend towards the increased application of military AI and other advanced technologies in conflict observable around the world.
We are deeply alarmed by the use of automated military systems in Gaza and the UK’s broader role in supporting Israeli military operations. Gaza must not be used as a testing ground for new AI-enabled weapons technology. We urge the UK to:
- Support the numerous United Nations resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and uphold the International Court of Justice’ ruling obliging Israel’s prevention of genocidal acts against Palestinians
- Immediately halt all transfers of arms, military technology to Israel
- Publish details of any UK export, including technology and software, at risk of being used in Israel’s offensive in Gaza
- Explain what measures are being taken to ensure the UK is not complicit, through data sharing or otherwise, in Israel’s AI-driven targeting systems
- Join the UN Secretary-General, the Pope, and over 100 countries by working for a legally binding treaty to regulate Autonomy in Weapons Systems
- Continue aid to refugees as well as to support structures and organisations, including UNRWA
- Support independent accountability mechanisms and access required for record and evidence gathering.
This letter remains open for sign-ons; click here to add your organisation’s name to the letter.
