September 16, 2019
Username:
 In 2021-Autonomous Weapon Systems

Topic:
Country: Greece
Delegate Name: Addison Beckhorn

Along with modern warfare technology comes autonomous weapons systems, essentially Artificial Intelligence systems of weapons, capable of attacking without human action. These can be terrorist weapons, such as a drone equipped with an IED, or federally used, such as anti-missile systems, or anti-aircraft systems. While these can be set to only attack incoming threats to a country, with every automatic system, there is room for failure or errors. [1] This doesn’t even account for the possibility of hijacking by terrorists. Can Autonomous Weapons have ethics in warfare? Can machines see right and wrong, make a good choice on their choice of attacking? [2]

Greece recognizes the dangers of autonomous weapons. It also recognizes the benefit if used properly. The duty of countries is to protect their people. It believes that autonomous weapons can effectively protect its people, such as thwarting missiles that are heading for populated places.[1] However, when used in warfare, especially in places with a civilian population, fatal errors can be made. What if an autonomous weapon guarding a military detects a small child, and deems them as a threat? This use of an autonomous weapons system poses a mortal threat to humanity, with the possibility of committing war crimes all without human oversight or interaction. [1]

With these concerns, these are Greece’s proposed resolutions to this subject. Greece believes in banning autonomous weapons used in warfare. However, when it comes to banning all autonomous weapons, Greece knows that autonomous weapons systems can be used for good in some scenarios, such as thwarting terrorist attacks and so forth. An agreement needs to be made about the use of autonomous weapons used in warfare, as the actions of all countries that use autonomous weapons affect all humans. This agreement would forbid Autonomous weapons in warfare, and prevent unneeded civilian casualties. Inaction about this subject could have deadly, ethical violations and harm. Greece expects to find allies in progressive countries with its same care and understanding of warfare conflicts. [2]