The European Parliament adopted this week in Strasbourg a resolution calling for the prohibition of weapons unchecked by significant human control when choosing and attacking targets. Certain countries and industries are developing systems of autonomous lethal weapons, also known as “killer robots.”

These include missiles that are able to select their targets, or learning machines with cognitive skills allowing them to decide whom to attack, when, and where.

“The machines cannot make decisions like men do,” for it is still human responsibility to make life or death decisions, the MEPs affirm in their resolution, adopted by an overwhelming majority.

They call on the European Commission and Member States to find a common position in that sense, and uphold a ban at the international level.

The Brussels Times