Just war

Autonomous Weapon Systems are on the increase in modern war. Once-passive reconnaissance drones are now able to bear weapons. With them they bring serious moral, ethical and legal issues. The tendency for combatants to face a reduced risk means that conflicts may no longer be deemed a last resort. The concept of a just war* is now at risk, and the Geneva Convention, which has been at the core of humanitarian conflict for almost 60 years, has no valid resolution. Whilst a 'human in the loop' is seen as a safeguard to full autonomy, more complex and sophisticated systems mean a tipping point is fast approaching when robot systems will be able to initiate their own 'kill' orders. What can we do to stop technology from destroying the ageing ethical boundaries?