In response to a parliamentary question from Lord Browne of Ladyton, the UK government has confirmed its ongoing commitment to international discussions on lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS).
The question, posed on 10th October 2024, asked whether the UK supports the establishment of an international treaty on autonomous weapon systems, following the Prime Minister’s speech at the UN General Assembly in September.
Lord Coaker, Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence, answered on 23rd October 2024, outlining the UK’s position on the issue.
He highlighted that international discussions on LAWS are currently conducted under the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) through a Group of Government Experts (GGE).
Lord Coaker explained, “In 2023 the UK joined consensus on a strengthened mandate for the GGE to ‘consider and formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature, and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems.’ The UK remains committed to working constructively and proactively to fulfil that mandate through that process.”
While the UK has not committed to a specific treaty, its participation in these discussions demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing the challenges posed by emerging technologies in autonomous weapon systems, particularly within the framework of the UN.
The government’s stance reflects an ongoing engagement with international efforts to regulate and control the use of such technologies in warfare.
Articles on DAU and DAIC describe the UK as a “world power” in the field, so I’m not surprised the UK would be at the heart of such discussions.
There’s a degree of hypocrisy when it comes to discussing developments in lethal autonomous weapons. Many talk as if it were something new, where in fact lethal autonomous weapons in the form of land mines and sea mines have been in existence for over a century.