The European Parliament wants so-called ‘killer robots’ to be banned. A majority of 566 parliamentarians want the EU and its member states to take the lead in declaring such fully automated weapon systems an international taboo.
People should always be in control of life and death decisions, is the purport of a non-binding resolution passed by parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. 47 MPs voted against the resolution.
According to the petitioners, research into and development of such machines should not be possible with European money. There are already (prototypes of) ‘killer robots’, which include, for example, artificially intelligent rockets or drones.
Negotiations are underway at international level
Negotiations are underway at the United Nations on a treaty to ban them. A coalition of 26 countries is committed to this. EU countries have different views on the subject. EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini has assembled an expert group. The Italian said that she will put the matter on the agenda at a meeting of the EU defense ministers.