Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract/Objectives
Artificial Intelligence development has been steadily expanding in the last decade, including in the areas of weaponry. One of the most prominent examples is the development of autonomous weapons systems. These systems are capable of selecting and applying force to targets without any human intervention. However, the unpredictability of these systems poses a challenge for human operators in ensuring that they operate within the norms of International Humanitarian Law. On the other hand, military working dogs have been deployed for centuries to carry out a range of operations on the battlefield. They face similar challenges as autonomous weapons system because of their autonomy. Nevertheless, several countries have already established regulations for the supervision and management of military working dog teams. These regulations are intended to maintain control over the actions of these teams and ensure compliance with international humanitarian law. Accordingly, this thesis aims to analyze the problems encountered in the application of international humanitarian law and review the supervision and management system for military dogs. By drawing an analogy and making a comparison with autonomous weapons systems, we can gain insights into how regulations can be established to ensure that autonomous weapons systems are used in a manner that is consistent with international humanitarian law. Moreover, this comparison can also prevent scapegoating those who had no control over the design, programming, or even deployment of an autonomous weapons systems, but simply operate the systems on the battlefield.
Results/Contributions

The thesis examines the application of international humanitarian law to non-human combatants, specifically focusing on military working dogs and autonomous weapon systems. It explores the legal and operational complexities associated with their deployment on battlefields. The study finds that both military working dogs and autonomous weapon systems present unique challenges in compliance with international humanitarian law due to their autonomous characteristics, which can lead to unpredictable behaviors.

The thesis highlights that while military working dogs have been subject to established supervisory and management systems by various countries to ensure their actions remain predictable and controllable on the battlefield, autonomous weapon systems lack similar comprehensive frameworks. This discrepancy raises significant concerns regarding the legal accountability and the potential for unintended actions that may violate international norms.

By drawing parallels between military working dogs and autonomous weapon systems, the thesis provides insights into how regulations might be formulated for autonomous weapon systems to ensure they operate within the bounds of international humanitarian law. It proposes that by learning from the management systems in place for military working dogs, policymakers can develop more effective governance structures for autonomous weapon systems to prevent misuse and enhance accountability.

Keywords
Non-human CombatantsAutonomous Weapon SystemsMilitary Working DogsInternational Humanitarian LawAccountability Gap
References