New Weapons and Old Law: Can International Humanitarian Law Treaties Deal Adequately with Modern Technologies?
Abstract
Military technology is developing incredibly fast. Drones, Autonomous Weapon Systems (AWS), and Cyberwarfare instruments have been resorted to by states and non-state actors in warfare. Yet, the developments and emerging challenges have not resulted in formal amendments to the existing regulatory framework of International law. Some believe that the current regime is required to be amended in accordance with developing technologies. Others support the idea that the rules and principles of the existing International Humanitarian Law regime need to be re-evaluated and re-interpreted according to changing conditions on the ground that a formal amendment process does not seem to be a feasible option because of the resistance of the powerful international actors. At this point, formidable questions arise such as; What are the challenges to interpreting existing rules and standards of the IHL regime amidst the increasing developing technologies? What levels of autonomy will be permissible for AWS to ensure compliance with international law principles, i.e., the principle of distinction in warfare? Which technologies or certain weapons can/should be restricted and outlawed? This article aims to come up with satisfying answers to these and further questions.
References
- Krishnan, A. (2009) Killer Robots: Legality and Ethicality of Autonomous Weapons (Ashgate Publishing: Surrey)
- Heinegg, H. ve G. Beruto (2011) 34th Round table on Current issues of international humanitarian law: Sanremo, 8th-10th September Politica/studi, Angeli 2012.
- Solis, G. (2012) The Law of Armed Conflict: International Humanitarian Law in War Cambridge University Press
- Melzer N, (2013) Human rights implications of the usage of drones and unmanned robots in warfare
- Silver, N. (2012) The Signal and the Noise: Why Most Predictions Fail but Some Don’t Penguin Press: New York
- Petman J, (2018) Autonomous weapons systems and international humanitarian law: "out of the loop"? Research reports/ Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- Clapham, A. ve T. Haeck (2014) (eds), The Oxford handbook of international law in armed conflict Oxford handbooks in law, 1. ed. Oxford Univ. Press
- Cassese vd., (2014) 'Current Challenges to International Humanitarian Law' in Andrew Clapham and Tom Haeck (eds), The Oxford handbook of international law in armed conflict Oxford handbooks in law, 1. ed. Oxford Univ. Press.
- Haines, S. (2014) ‘The Developing Law of Weapons: Humanity, Distinction, and Precautions in Attacks’ in Andrew Clapham and Tom Haeck (eds), The Oxford handbook of international law in armed conflict Oxford handbooks in law, 1. ed. Oxford Univ. Press
- Cummings, M. (2006) “Automation and Accountability in Decision Support System Interface Design”, 32 Journal of Technology Studies
- Murphy, J. (2011) “Mission Impossible? International law and the changing character of war”, 41 Israel Yearbook on Human Rights
- Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977
- Aerial Incident of 3 July 1988 (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States) (Order of 22 February 1996) ICJ Reports
- Statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (13 May 2014)
- Lubell, N. ve C. Amichai (2011) (eds), ‘Applying International Humanitarian Law in a New Technological Age: New Technologies, Old Law.’
- Droege C, ‘No Legal Vacuum in Cyberspace’ (August 2011) https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/resources/documents/interview/2011/cyber-warfare-interview-2011-08-16.htm
- United States Air Force, (2009) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan 2009–2047, 18 May 2009, Washington DC, available at <www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/uas_2009.pdf>
- Major Michael A. Guetlin, (2005) Lethal Autonomous Weapons – Ethical and Doctrinal Implications, JMO Department, Naval War College, available at <www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA464896>,
- Mohan R and Lawand K, ‘New Technologies, Warfare, and International Humanitarian Law’ (20 March 2016) <https://carnegieindia.org/2016/03/30/new-technologies-warfare-and-international-humanitarian-law-event-5221>.
- Nichelson B, ‘New Wars, New Weapons: New Challenges for the Red Cross’ (23 May 2019) <https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/new-wars-new-weapons-new-challenges-for-the-red-cross/>.
- Weiner, T. ‘New Model Army Soldier Rolls Closer to Battle’, 16 February 2005, available at www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/technology/new-model-army-soldierrollscloser-to-battle.html
Yeni Silahlar ve Eski Hukuk: Uluslararası İnsancıl Hukuk Metinleri Modern Teknolojiler ile Yeterli Düzeyde Başa Çıkabilir mi?
Abstract
Askeri teknoloji son derece hızlı bir şekilde gelişmekte. Dronlar, Otonom Silah Sistemleri (AWS) ve Siber savaş araçlarına devletler ve devlet dışı aktörler tarafından başvurulmakta. Ancak bu gelişmeler ve bunlara bağlı olarak ortaya çıkan sorunlar, henüz uluslararası hukuk metinlerinde herhangi bir değişikliğe sebebiyet vermedi. Bazı yazarlar, Uluslararası hukuk rejiminin gelişen teknolojiye ayak uydurularak değiştirilmesi gerektiğini iddia etmekteler. Diğerleri ise güçlü aktörlerin uluslararası hukuk normların değiştirilmesine direnç göstereceği gerekçesine dayanarak uluslararası hukuk normlarının değiştirilmek yerine daha makul bir çözüm olan yeniden yorumlanması gerektiğini ileri sürmektedirler. Bu aşamada, cevap bulması güç olan bazı sorular ortaya çıkmakta. Örneğin; gelişen teknoloji ışığında uluslararası hukukun kural ve standartlarının yorumlanmasında ne gibi güçlüklerle karşılaşılabilir? Yahut uluslararası hukukun prensipleri ile uyumlu olabilmesi için otonom silah sistemlerine hangi dereceye kadar otonomluk verilmelidir? Son olarak hangi teknolojiler veya spesifik silahlar yasaklanmalıdır? Yazar, makalede bu ve buna benzer sorulara yanıt bulmayı amaçlamaktadır.
References
- Krishnan, A. (2009) Killer Robots: Legality and Ethicality of Autonomous Weapons (Ashgate Publishing: Surrey)
- Heinegg, H. ve G. Beruto (2011) 34th Round table on Current issues of international humanitarian law: Sanremo, 8th-10th September Politica/studi, Angeli 2012.
- Solis, G. (2012) The Law of Armed Conflict: International Humanitarian Law in War Cambridge University Press
- Melzer N, (2013) Human rights implications of the usage of drones and unmanned robots in warfare
- Silver, N. (2012) The Signal and the Noise: Why Most Predictions Fail but Some Don’t Penguin Press: New York
- Petman J, (2018) Autonomous weapons systems and international humanitarian law: "out of the loop"? Research reports/ Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- Clapham, A. ve T. Haeck (2014) (eds), The Oxford handbook of international law in armed conflict Oxford handbooks in law, 1. ed. Oxford Univ. Press
- Cassese vd., (2014) 'Current Challenges to International Humanitarian Law' in Andrew Clapham and Tom Haeck (eds), The Oxford handbook of international law in armed conflict Oxford handbooks in law, 1. ed. Oxford Univ. Press.
- Haines, S. (2014) ‘The Developing Law of Weapons: Humanity, Distinction, and Precautions in Attacks’ in Andrew Clapham and Tom Haeck (eds), The Oxford handbook of international law in armed conflict Oxford handbooks in law, 1. ed. Oxford Univ. Press
- Cummings, M. (2006) “Automation and Accountability in Decision Support System Interface Design”, 32 Journal of Technology Studies
- Murphy, J. (2011) “Mission Impossible? International law and the changing character of war”, 41 Israel Yearbook on Human Rights
- Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977
- Aerial Incident of 3 July 1988 (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States) (Order of 22 February 1996) ICJ Reports
- Statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (13 May 2014)
- Lubell, N. ve C. Amichai (2011) (eds), ‘Applying International Humanitarian Law in a New Technological Age: New Technologies, Old Law.’
- Droege C, ‘No Legal Vacuum in Cyberspace’ (August 2011) https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/resources/documents/interview/2011/cyber-warfare-interview-2011-08-16.htm
- United States Air Force, (2009) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan 2009–2047, 18 May 2009, Washington DC, available at <www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/uas_2009.pdf>
- Major Michael A. Guetlin, (2005) Lethal Autonomous Weapons – Ethical and Doctrinal Implications, JMO Department, Naval War College, available at <www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA464896>,
- Mohan R and Lawand K, ‘New Technologies, Warfare, and International Humanitarian Law’ (20 March 2016) <https://carnegieindia.org/2016/03/30/new-technologies-warfare-and-international-humanitarian-law-event-5221>.
- Nichelson B, ‘New Wars, New Weapons: New Challenges for the Red Cross’ (23 May 2019) <https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/new-wars-new-weapons-new-challenges-for-the-red-cross/>.
- Weiner, T. ‘New Model Army Soldier Rolls Closer to Battle’, 16 February 2005, available at www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/technology/new-model-army-soldierrollscloser-to-battle.html
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Law in Context |
| Journal Section | Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | June 30, 2022 |
| Submission Date | May 22, 2021 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2022 |
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