Cracking the Code Criminal Liability, “Killer Robots," and War Crimes, Accountability for Killer Robots' Actions under the Rome Statute

Abstract

The 21st century's technological advancements have revolutionized human behavior. States require them to improve and facilitate the lives of their citizens and to pursue global connectivity. However, modern technologies have also been utilized in armed conflicts, primarily due to their effectiveness as a method of warfare. The international community is currently facing a new era of military operations in which human actions are replaced by systems that select and engage targets autonomously, such as fully autonomous weapons or so-called "Killer Robots." The question is whether a person may incur international criminal liability for the actions of Killer Robots during armed conflicts. The purpose of this paper is to analyze, according to the Rome Statute, the responsibility of individuals in such a scenario. This paper will examine what a "Killer Robot" is and the various approaches to its status in international criminal law, focusing on the growing concerns about the potential for these machines to commit war crimes and the "gap" in accountability for those actions.