UN, Red Cross Push Rules on Killer Robots

The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday ratcheted up a joint call for countries to adopt bans and restrictions on autonomous weapons systems — often called "killer robots" — warning that "the risks have intensified."

The appeal, issued in Geneva, stops short of demanding a blanket ban.

It says such weapons are being developed, though the U.N. and the Red Cross have not confirmed their use on the battlefield. The two organizations say civilians need protection for the day that changes.

What They Said

"We are now dangerously close to crossing a moral red line: The autonomous targeting of humans by machines," said U.N. Geneva spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci, reading a joint statement from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric.

"Today, we renew this call with even greater urgency," the statement said. "The fundamental concerns remain unchanged, but the risks have intensified."

The two groups say weapons technology is advancing at "record speed," straining the international rules system and widening the gap between what the technology can do and what the law restrains.

"Autonomous weapons systems are not part of a distant future — a race toward greater autonomy in weapons systems is already well underway," the statement said.

It also leaned on the engineers building the systems: "Scientists and engineers developing these systems have themselves raised the alarm. When the architects of this technology are calling for limits, states cannot afford to remain passive."

"This year must mark a turning point," the statement said.

The Backdrop

The new push comes as drones and other technologies are used in conflicts as varied as the Russia-Ukraine war, the Middle East and Sudan.

Ground robotic vehicles have so far been used on the Ukrainian battlefield mostly to ferry supplies to infantry and carry out evacuations, because Ukraine needs to preserve manpower as drones spread across the front.

Kyiv is now trying to scale up armed robotic systems with firing power to ease the pressure on outnumbered infantry, but those efforts have been limited so far.