2020 Volume 13 Issue 3 Pages 217-230
Emerging technologies such as AI and autonomous robots and the consideration to increase their industrial use are rapidly progressing. Furthermore, research and development of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) are also advancing. As part of an international debate, regulations in the framework of the Convention on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) have been discussed and basic principles have been proposed. In this article, the international humanitarian law applicable to LAWS, the report of the United Nations Disarmament Institute (UNIDIR), the status of discussions from the level of informal LAWS experts meetings to the Government Expert Meeting (GGE) on the LAWS lethal autonomous weapon system, the contents of proposed guiding principles, and the status of consideration regarding legal and ethical aspects for regulating LAWS are described and confirmed.