In response to a question from Ingrid Fiskaa of the Socialist Left Party (SV) regarding the regulation of autonomous weapons systems, Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt has outlined Norway’s plans and positions on the matter.
Fiskaa expressed urgency in regulating autonomous weapons systems, highlighting that despite a decade of discussions within the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in Geneva, no significant progress has been made. However, 90 countries, including European allies such as the Netherlands and Spain, have recently advocated for legally binding regulation. Fiskaa emphasized the need for clarity on the Norwegian government’s plans and whether it will align with other allied nations.
In her response, Foreign Minister Huitfeldt acknowledged the rapid development and widespread application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data processing, and sensors in various sectors. While these technological advancements have opened doors for weapons systems with different degrees of human control, they also pose numerous challenges in terms of international law, ethics, humanitarian concerns, and military implications.
The Norwegian government is committed to establishing effective international regulation for autonomous weapons. They believe it is crucial to involve as many countries as possible, especially major military powers, in regulating new and emerging weapons technologies.
The most significant international efforts for regulating autonomous weapons systems have taken place within an expert group operating under the framework of the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). Since 2019, this group has been tasked with developing recommendations for a normative and operational framework for autonomous weapons systems. Norway has actively participated in this group in recent years. While achieving consensus is challenging, the diverse composition of the CCW is an advantage.
Positive signs of progress are emerging. Norway, along with like-minded countries including the Netherlands and Spain, has advocated for a dual-track approach to regulate autonomous weapons—prohibiting those that violate humanitarian law and regulating other types of weapons with autonomous functions. Meaningful human control is a prerequisite for a weapons system to be used in accordance with international law. In May, this approach was incorporated into the expert group’s report to be presented at the CCW’s state party meeting in November. This provides guidance for future work, whether it continues within the CCW or outside of it.
It is essential to emphasize that autonomous weapons systems do not constitute a uniform category of weapons, and there is no internationally accepted definition. The expert group within the CCW has significantly contributed to fostering a shared understanding of the complexity of these new weapons systems and developing the necessary conceptual framework for effective regulation.