LETHAL AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS SYSTEMS: LEGAL AND ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN AN ERA OF ALGORITHMIC WARFARE

Louise Amorim Beja

Autores

Louise Amorim Beja Coimbra University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4120-6868

Palavras-chave:

International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Responsibility, Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWs), Ethical Dilemmas of Algorithmic Warfare.

Resumo

War has long been regulated by International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Criminal Law (ICL, aiming to limit violence and ensure accountability for crimes. However, the rise of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems introduces new challenges. Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWs), capable of selecting and attacking targets without human intervention, threaten the normative

foundations of the legal order. Unlike traditional or remotely operated weapons, LAWs rely on algorithms, raising ethical and legal dilemmas.

Their use undermines principles of dignity, proportionality, and distinction between combatants and civilians, while complicating the attribution of responsibility for violations of IHL. From a Kantian perspective, delegating lethal decisions to machines disregards the intrinsic value of human life, collapsing the moral basis of justice. The lack of consensus on regulating LAWs has stalled treaty efforts, with technologically advanced states resisting limits. This paper examines their definition, risks, human rights impact, and proposes strengthening international regulation, including expanding the ICC’s mandate.

Biografia do Autor

Louise Amorim Beja, Coimbra University

_{PhD candidate in Legal and Criminal Sciences at the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra; Master’s degree in Legal and Political Sciences with a specialisation in Public and European International Law and Specialist in Collaborative R&D&I Project Management from the same institution; Postgraduate in Armed Conflicts and Human Rights from the IGC (Human Rights Centre of the University of Coimbra) and the Military University Institute; and in Teaching and Management in Higher Education. Researcher at the University of Coimbra Institute for Legal Research (UCILeR); Scholarship holder from the Foundation for Science and Technology (2025.01733.BD); Member of the Eduardo Correia Institute; Human Rights Activist for Amnesty International Portugal, Coimbra Group.}

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