Chapter

How far will the law allow unmanned targeting to go ?

Bill Boothby

International humanitarian law and the changing technology of war

Leiden ; Boston : M. Nijhoff, 2013

p. 45-63

English

In this chapter, the author considers how the principle of distinction and the targeting rules, particularly the precautions in attack prescribed by article 57 of Additional Protocol I, may limit the utility of such autonomous technology. It concludes that autonomous attack may be legitimate under appropriate, but somewhat restrictive circumstances and explores the legal distinction between positive attack decisions by a person, and the ability of an individual to veto a mechanically made attack decision. In a concluding section, Boothby's chapter considers approaches that may make the use of this advanced technology more acceptable.

• International humanitarian law and the changing technology of war / ed. by Dan Saxon