Last week, Labour announced an increase in military spending to 2.5% in response to growing instability on the world stage. The coming months and years will see an unprecedented investment in the UK’s armed forces—including in emerging technologies such as AI and Autonomous Weapon Systems (AWS).
It is critical that amid this surge in military spending, the UK does not overlook safeguards or the ongoing discussions at the United Nations on how international humanitarian law governs the use of AWS. Now is the time to strengthen our multilateral ties.
Stop Killer Robots UK urges the UK government to remain actively engaged in discussions at the Group of Governmental Experts of the High Contracting Parties on lethal autonomous weapons systems. Additionally, we encourage the UK to help move these discussions to the General Assembly with the aim of introducing a treaty to guide the responsible development of this technology.
Last year saw an ‘Oppenheimer moment’ with autonomous weapons being deployed in multiple conflicts around the world. Time is running out to ensure vital safeguards for the protection of civilians and measures to prevent the proliferation of these systems to non-state actors.
