Ban or No Ban, Hard Questions Remain on Autonomous Weapons

Banning autonomous weapons would be much more complicated than advocates have suggested

6 min read
Ban or No Ban, Hard Questions Remain on Autonomous Weapons
The Phalanx is a computer-controlled, radar-guided gun system that can automatically detect, track, and fire at incoming missiles and enemy aircraft. While some may consider weapons like the Phalanx as purely defensive, the authors argue that it is hard to differentiate clearly between offensive and defensive weapons, and this is just one of the many challenges that a recent proposal calling for a ban on offensive autonomous weapons would face.
Photo: U.S. Army