World split on how to regulate 'killer robots'

Diplomats from around the world met in Geneva last week for the United Nations' third Informal Expert Meeting on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), commonly dubbed "killer robots". Their aim was to make progress on deciding how, or if, LAWS should be regulated under international humanitarian law. A range of views were expressed at the meeting, from Pakistan being in favour of a full ban, to the UK favouring no new regulation for LAWS, and several positions in between. Despite the range of views on offer, there was some common ground. It is generally agreed that LAWS are governed by international humanitarian law.