Autonomous Killer Drones

Abstract

This chapter addresses the question of whether autonomous combat drones should be allowed to make life and death decisions. It examines an argument proposed by Rob Sparrow, in which considerations of moral responsibility occupy centre stage. The chapter contributes to the debate about military robotic technologies by discussing the moral credentials of autonomous killer drones (AKDs). It examines whether the use of autonomous killer drones (AKDs), is morally permissible. Since the introduction to this volume already provides a helpful discussion of drone technologies and likely developments. The chapter also examines and rejectes Sparrow's argument against the use of AKDs. Sparrow claims that when AKDs kill, nobody can be held responsible for the deaths that result, which he takes to be a violation of the principles of jus in bello. If using AKDs is, indeed, morally wrong, people who through their individual acts contributed to their use acted wrongly and are responsible for that.