Last month I wrote about the Turkish-manufactured loitering munition used in #Libya hrw.org/news/2021/05/1… Regarded as only real form of “offensive” autonomous weapon deployed today. Highlights urgent need for regulation now. 
Little is know about this autonomous weapon system + even less about the circumstances of its use in #Libya. I wrote to its manufacturer #Turkey in 2019 but never received a response: stopkillerrobots.org/wp-content/upl…
#Turkey has barely contributed to the diplomatic talks on concerns over removing human control from the use of force. But that doesn't give it the green light to develop autonomous weapons systems. Recent media interest should provide much-needed scrutiny. #KillerRobots
Public opposition to #KillerRobots is strong in #Turkey, topping Ipsos polls conducted in 2018 + 2020 hrw.org/news/2021/02/0… Yet Turkish armed forces are investing heavily in autonomous weapons systems. Guard rails are needed now in the form of an international ban treaty.
Loitering munitions are not new - Israeli-made "suicide drones" were used by #Azerbaijan in 2016 + 2020. Yet scant details about their use. ie role of human operator, any victims, impact. Lack of transparency will only worsen without international regulation. #KillerRobots
What's new about #Turkey's loitering munition is that @UN #Libya researchers called it as a lethal autonomous weapon system ie killer robot. Strong media interest, public reaction shows concerns over removing human control from the use of force will only increase w/out regulation
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