'Killer robots' ban stalled by Australia and military giants

Australia acted in the “national security interest’ by blocking treaty talks on ‘killer robots’, according to a defence technology expert.

After a week of UN-organised negotiations in Geneva, Australia joined a group of nations opposing moves to ban lethal autonomous weapons.

The futuristic technology undefined by international law includes tanks, planes, ships and guns capable of operating without human oversight.

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The weapons – still largely in development – are known as ‘killer robots’.

Twenty-six nations had wanted to begin talks towards a treaty outlawing them to ensure humans maintain control.

Australia joined a handful of nations including the US, Israel, South Korea and Russia in opposition.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told nine.com.au that without a definition of such weapons a ban would be "premature".

"In the absence of an agreed definition of lethal autonomous weapons systems, Australia considers a treaty banning such systems would be premature." 

Talks ended late last week with no agreement but a pledge to explore “future options”.

Defence technology expert Malcolm Davis, of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told nine.com.au Canberra had acted in its “national security interest”.

He says Russia and China are manipulating the ‘killer robot’ debate, with the aim of encouraging western nations to sign up to a treaty stopping development of the weapons.

“But Russia and China are developing these fully autonomous weapons and they are not going to ban them.”

Dr Davis compared today’s ‘killer robot’ debate with the Cold War when both Russia and the US had nuclear weapons.

From the 1950s to the 1980s, western government refused calls for nuclear disarmament, fearing it would hand Russia and its allies a huge edge.

“If we ban them and the other side has them, it would give them a huge military advantage.”

“We [Australia] have to act in our national security interest.”

But campaigners condemned the nations that blocked the move, saying those who want to develop the weapons stalled progress to a ban, reports the Independent.

“Time is running out to draw a normative line on autonomy in weapons systems and prevent dehumanizing the use of force,” said Mary Wareham of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots.

“These states - Australia, Israel, Russia, South Korea, and the United States – repeatedly expressed their desire to explore potential ‘advantages’ or ‘benefits’ to developing and using lethal autonomous weapons systems.”

Experts believe robotic weapons will be widespread in warfare within years.

Global spending on robotics is set to leap from $129 billion in 2016 to $336 billion by 2020.