Law Symposium: The limits of technological warfare

Unmanned drones, cruise missiles, automated weapons, even armed robot warriors on the battlefield— in a time of troop cutbacks, emerging technologies make it possible to conduct “clinical strikes” that limit civilian deaths, and even “remote warfare” that might lead to reductions in combatant casualties.

What are the ethics of waging war from a safe distance? Who is responsible for decision-making? Do different rules of autonomy and accountability apply? If so, who is drafting these new rules of armed conflict and how will they be enforced?

On Friday, Feb. 1, the S.J. Quinney College of Law will examine these issues in a symposium titled, “The Legal and Ethical Limits of Technological Warfare.” The symposium runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the law school’s Moot Courtroom. Engage with recognized experts representing different disciplines and perspectives regarding the confluence between technological warfare, the law, and ethics. The all-day event, co-sponsored by the Utah Law Review, is free and open to the public. Additional information may be found here.