128 countries agree on first step toward international rules for “killer robots”

After more than a decade of difficult negotiations, 128 countries have agreed on a document intended to open the way toward international rules for autonomous weapons, often called “killer robots.”

The nonbinding text was adopted during a meeting in Geneva under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. It addresses the rapid development of combat systems that can detect targets, choose them and attack with varying degrees of independence.

The agreement did not end the dispute over how such weapons should be controlled. Stop Killer Robots criticized the final wording, saying negotiators weakened it during the last hours of talks. The organization pointed particularly to the definition of autonomous weapons and proposed safeguards intended to reduce risks to civilians.

Negotiators also clashed over whether the process should produce binding international rules. Countries including the United States and Russia backed an approach based on national principles and guidelines instead. Washington pressed for greater flexibility, especially over how much human involvement should be required in the operation of autonomous weapons.