Lethal autonomous robots as human rights challenge

Abstract

The dissertation analyses Lethal Autonomous Robots (LARs) and their future implications for society. Recently, there are many on-going debates about LARs without unequivocal answer. LARs raise fears of up-coming progress while it creates new opportunities to military forces. Thus, the dissertation attempts to examine the technological capacity and feasibility to create such technology at first. Secondly, it questions the military benefits in monetary terms and the value of human life to substitute human soldiers. Thirdly, it uses theoretical knowledge of International Law, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and applies it to LARs. It attempts to find out whether current legal norms are sufficient for use of LARs in the battlefield and questions the prohibition and possible responsibility bearer. It concludes with the core question: “How to use LARs and not destroy humanity?” KEYWORDS: humanity, killing decision, Lethal Autonomous Robots, rational decision, responsibility