Law and the Future of War
Through conversation with experts in technology, law and military affairs, this series explores how new military technology and international law interact. Edited and produced by Dr Lauren Sanders and Dr Simon McKenzie, the podcast is published by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Law and Security. Until July 2024, the podcast was published by the University of Queensland School of Law.
Law and the Future of War
What does IHL Permit, Prohibit and Require? - Netta Goussac and Laura Bruun
In this episode, as part of our series on AWS, legal review & IHL, we speak with Netta Goussac & Laura Bruun about their recently released SIPRI report on IHL & AWS, asking questions about what IHL permits, prohibits & requires in the design, development & use of AWS.
Netta Goussac is a Special Counsel with Lexbridge (a legal practice & consultancy specialising in public international law). She has worked as an international lawyer for over a decade, including for the ICRC & the Australian Government’s Office of International Law. Netta has expertise in legal frameworks related to the development, acquisition & transfer of weapons. Netta has provided legal & policy advice related to new technologies of warfare, including AWS, military applications of AI & cyber & space security, including as a researcher with the SIPRI.
Laura Bruun is a Researcher in the Governance of AI Programme at SIPRI. Her focus is on how emerging military technologies, notably AWS & military AI, affect compliance with—& interpretation of—IHL. Laura has a background in Middle Eastern Studies (University of Copenhagen) and International Security & Law (University of Southern Denmark). Laura worked at, among others, Airwars in London, where she monitored & assessed civilian casualty reports from US & Russian airstrikes in Syria & Iraq.
Additional Resources:
- Netta & Laura's report, Compliance with International Humanitarian Law in the Development and Use of Autonomous Weapon Systems: What does IHL Permit, Prohibit and Require? published by SIPRI
- The SIPRI publication series on AWS, including the development of autonomy, human control & accountability & Article 36 Reviews
- The Asser Institute's podcast, Lethal Autonomous Weapons: 10 things we want to know
- UNIDIR publications, including Gender Bias and the 'Black Box'.
- ICRC's Position on Autonomous Weapons Systems here; see also their factsheet & video
- Dustin Lewis, A Key Set of IHL Questions concerning AI-supported Decision-making, in 51 Collegium
- Jaan Kross, Professor Martens' Departure, 1