The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross have warned that the world is dangerously close to crossing a “moral red line” where machines could automatically target humans without human intervention.
In a joint statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoliaric called for the immediate start of negotiations to adopt an internationally binding instrument with clear prohibitions and restrictions on autonomous weapons systems.
They have emphasized that the race to increase autonomy in weapons systems has already begun, and rapid technological advancement has widened the gap between technical capabilities and legal constraints.
The United Nations and the Red Cross have called on countries to take decisive action before these technologies spread unchecked to maintain human control over the use of lethal force and prevent further harm to civilians.
