“Another Hollow OnLine Experience”

“down in the park - where the machmen meet the machines and play “kill-by-numbers” - down in the park with a friend called “five”.

Gary Numan - Down in the Park

As technology grows ever closer to giving us an Autonomous Weapon System (AWS) I wonder if now is a good time to question whether or not they should be banned. The problem I see is not one of rehashed science fiction in which “the creation” turns on “the creator”. The problem I see is two fold.

First and foremost AWS’s and Semi-AWS’s lower the cost of war for a country. If the only cost of attacking someone is vehicle loss, nations may, and I believe eventually will, go to war quicker as there will be little to no backlash from the public. When there is no longer a need to send “the boys” off to fight and die what will make a war unpopular? Who’s propaganda do you trust?

Secondly and more disturbing is the question of what can and what will a government do to its own people when there is no longer a chance of failure in the chain of command. No longer will the ground forces have the human ability to go against orders. Imagine Nazi Germany with these systems. Imagine a mechanized SS patrolling the streets. Now understand that the likely hood of such a regime having these systems is almost guaranteed. It is human nature after all.

After these considerations I would propose an international treaty banning Autonomous and Semi-Autonomous Weapon Systems. This banning would not affect the use of drones for reconnaissance. It would however ensure the cost of war would remain more than most people are willing to pay and possibly keep governments a little more honest.