05/03/15

The dark side of drones

By: Jon Spaull

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<h1>The dark side of drones</h1>
<h4>By: Jon Spaull</h4>
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<p><iframe loading="lazy" frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/194352861&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p>Drones “are being used in ways which fly in the face of humanitarian law”, says robotics and artificial intelligence expert Noel Sharkey. His concerns stem from the use of drones in the increasing automation of <a href="https://www.scidev.net/governance/conflict/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">warfare</a>. He also sees a danger of “creeping authoritarianism” in their expanding application in the civil world.<br />
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Sharkey explains how drones and robotics could help save civilian lives in conflict zones, but questions whether there is the global will to commit the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/enterprise/funding/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">resources</a> needed to implement these <a href="https://www.scidev.net/enterprise/innovation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">innovations</a>.<br />
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Sharkey, from Sheffield University in the United Kingdom, was interviewed after appearing on a panel last week (26 February) at the <a href="http://www.globalhealthfilm.org">Global Health Film initiative</a> event on the targeting of <a href="https://www.scidev.net/health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">health</a> facilities and personnel. The three films screened explored this issue in conflicts in Palestine, Syria and elsewhere.</p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/multimedia/dark-side-drones-conflict/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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Drones “are being used in ways which fly in the face of humanitarian law”, says robotics and artificial intelligence expert Noel Sharkey. His concerns stem from the use of drones in the increasing automation of warfare. He also sees a danger of “creeping authoritarianism” in their expanding application in the civil world.

Sharkey explains how drones and robotics could help save civilian lives in conflict zones, but questions whether there is the global will to commit the resources needed to implement these innovations.

Sharkey, from Sheffield University in the United Kingdom, was interviewed after appearing on a panel last week (26 February) at the Global Health Film initiative event on the targeting of health facilities and personnel. The three films screened explored this issue in conflicts in Palestine, Syria and elsewhere.