Autonomous Weapon Systems and Human Control

The video podcast series on the topic «Autonomous Weapons Systems and Human Control» is a collaboration between the Digital Society Initiative (DSI) of the University of Zurich and the Swiss Drone and Robotics Center SDRC of armasuisse Science and Technology (S+T) .

In nine episodes, the question of what approaches to ensuring human control in autonomous weapons systems might look like is explored from different perspectives. Raúl Gander from the SDRC leads through the individual episodes, in which experts from the fields of defence, international law, international humanitarian law (IHL), criminal law, arms control and ethics contribute their knowledge.

In the first episode, Raúl Gander introduces the video podcast series «Autonomous Weapon Systems and Human Control». The military developments in the field of autonomous weapon systems raise legal, political, ethical and humanitarian questions that will be addressed in this podcast series.

In the second episode, the Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Command, Major General Stephan Christen, explains the role that autonomous weapon systems already play in various war zones. In addition, the opportunities and challenges of weapon systems with autonomous capabilities for the Swiss Army are discussed.

What is the legal framework for the use of autonomous weapon systems in armed conflicts?

The third episode deals with the central norms of international law applicable to the use of autonomous weapons systems. The discussion focuses on the principles of distinction and proportionality, two pillars of international humanitarian law (IHL). This episode also elaborates on the differences between state responsibility and individual criminal responsibility when autonomous weapons are used. The expert in this episode is Paola Gaeta, Professor of International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute and Director of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.

Who is criminally responsible when autonomous weapon systems commit war crimes?

The fourth episode elaborates on the conditions that must be met for individual culpability when people are unlawfully harmed by the use of autonomous weapons. The issue of sharing responsibility and approaches to closing the accountability gap are also discussed. The experts are Sabine Gless, Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure at the University of Basel, and Dorotea Avedisian, a doctoral student in Gless's department.

Can decisions made by autonomous systems be anticipated?

The fifth episode deals with the predictability of autonomous systems and its significance for the exercise of human control. It also looks at how humans perceive artificial intelligence (AI) in different applications, how they interact with AI systems, and what is needed to make the collaboration between humans and AI effective. Our studio guest Dr. Serhiy Kandul is a postdoc at the Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine (IBME) at the University of Zurich and his research focuses on questions of acceptance and control of AI systems.

In episode six, Prof. Dr. Thomas Burri and PD Dr. Markus Christen discuss the currently most pressing challenges in dealing with autonomous weapons from a legal and ethical perspective. The experts also discuss key areas of action to ensure human control over autonomous weapons and which future scenarios could be realistic and reasonable in this context. Thomas Burri is professor of European and international law at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and Markus Christen is the managing director of the Digital Society Initiative (DSI) and head of the Digital Ethics Lab at the University of Zurich.

How can autonomous weapons be used in a way that is consistent with international law?

In the seventh episode, Georgia Hinds, legal adviser at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), describes how the ICRC defines autonomous weapons systems, which developments the ICRC is monitoring and which currently deployed systems meet the criteria of an autonomous weapon system. The ICRC explains which classes of autonomous weapons systems should be banned and how the operational environment and the parameters for permitted systems are to be limited. At the ICRC, Georgia Hinds is concerned with the legal and humanitarian implications of autonomous weapons, AI and other new technologies of warfare.

What is Switzerland's foreign policy position regarding autonomous weapons?

In the eighth episode, Reto Wollenmann from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) reports on the current status of the Geneva Process, in which a United Nations Group of Governmental Experts is negotiating the international regulation of autonomous weapon systems. The focus of the discussion is Switzerland's position on the development and use of autonomous weapons, as well as the approaches it is pursuing to ensure human control. Reto Wollenmann is deputy head of the Arms Control, Disarmament and Cybersecurity Section at the FDFA.

In the final episode, Raúl Gander from the Swiss Drone and Robotics Centre (SDRC) draws a conclusion of the video podcast series. The exciting and in-depth discussions with experts from various university disciplines, administrative units and organisations have shown how multi-layered and complex the main topic of this video podcast series on ensuring human control over autonomous weapon systems is.