The European Parliament today adopted a resolution to ban these weapons “before it is too late”. MEPs believe that only humans can be held responsible for “decisions about life or death”.

The development of killer robots, the name given to land or flying attack machines used in conflict zones, has made MEPs react. They wish to prevent the production of these autonomous weapons and have just adopted a resolution banning them by 546 votes in favor, 47 against and 73 abstentions.

MEPs believe that only humans can be held responsible for “decisions about life or death”. The resolution stresses that “machines can not make decisions like men”. Those weapons that could get out of  human’s control. Must “be banned before it’s too late.”

An “international ban”
These machines consist of drones, robots or “missiles capable of selecting their targets or learning machines with cognitive skills to decide who to attack, when and where”. This raises fundamental ethical and legal issues in terms of human control, especially with regard to critical functions such as target selection and attack.

MEPs plead for an “international ban” and call on Federica Mogherini, EU foreign policy chief, the Member States and the Council to find a common position to ensure meaningful human control over their critical functions and to to express with one voice in the different international forums.