Artificial Intelligence and International Humanitarian Law: Testing the Principles of Necessity, proportionality and distinction in modern warfare

Abstract

The science fiction Run around talks of the Three Laws of Robotics namely: Firstly, "A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm."Secondly, "A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law." Finally, the third rule iterates that, "A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. "The author adjusted and supplemented the three laws with a "Zeroth Law," suggesting that, "A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm." Today, in 2019, this fiction seems closer to reality. Technology has developed significantly, and the law is endeavouring to keep pace. This marked advancement in military technology and introduction new war participants is attributable to Artificial Intelligence (AI) which include unmanned aerial vehicles, military drones and other such defensive systems like the "killer robots" and Iron dome of Israel etc.3