Weaponized AI in Southeast Asia:
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:13 am
An IAI Harpy on display at the 2007 Paris Air Show.Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Jastrow
By Michael Picard
July 06, 2019
The idea that killer robots will soon be a reality in Southeast Asia may seem far-fetched to some.
" But this rapidly advancing domain of defense technology is gaining ground in and around Southeast Asia, and states need to prepare for the arrival of lethal autonomous weapons systems .."
" Instead, consider a drone operating over a large area of engagement, using facial recognition technology to search for, identify, and eliminate enemy combatants and infrastructure, all on its own. Without a human operator to interpret the broader context, as well as the removal of human accountability in making the decision to kill, the risks posed to civilians are hugely expanded."
"According to Fred Lubang, a campaigner from the Philippines, “Asia has been a testing ground for new and advanced weapons throughout the wars of its recent past: nuclear weapons in Japan; armed drones in Pakistan and Afghanistan; Agent Orange in Vietnam, among others.” Thus, the region is highly prone to and threatened by arms races held on uneven grounds"
"The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, therefore, hopes to stimulate this involvement among state actors, and engage the invaluable support of industry, research, and civil society groups concerned with the implications of LAWS. Only through an international ban would Southeast Asia’s security and prosperity be safeguarded."
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