https://msucerl.org/cmse101/tags/international-law/Recent content in International-Law on AI and Society CourseHugoen-usThu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://msucerl.org/cmse101/use-cases/11-1-lethal-autonomous-weapons-systems/Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://msucerl.org/cmse101/use-cases/11-1-lethal-autonomous-weapons-systems/<h1 id="lethal-autonomous-weapons-systems-laws">Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)</h1> <h2 id="context--systems-architecture">Context &amp; Systems Architecture</h2> <p>Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)—frequently referred to in public discourse as &ldquo;killer robots&rdquo;—represent a major shift in the execution of state violence. Unlike remote-piloted drones, where a human operator reviews video feeds and pulls a physical trigger, LAWS are robotic systems equipped with onboard sensor arrays and computer vision software designed to select, track, and engage targets with lethal force entirely on their own. These systems encompass everything from loitering munitions (like the STM Kargu-2 or AeroVironment Switchblade arrays) to autonomous marine vessels, operating at speeds that outpace human command-and-control loops.</p>