Description
The ongoing review and regulation process of Autonomous Weapon Systems in the UN’s Convention on Certain Weapons - Group of Governmental Experts (CCW-GGE) is a unique case as the debate revolves around weapon technology that has not yet been deployed. We explore how popular culture influences the review and regulation process of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). Unlike previous humanitarian arms control processes, the CCW-GGE process is not based on empirical data regarding the implications of the use of these weapons. Therefore, other sources, such as popular culture products, seem to be mobilized to imagine and make sense of how such technology would manifest and how the threats arising from it should be mitigated. To study this we focus specifically on how LAWS notions offered by the movie franchise ‘The Terminator’ have influenced the narratives of CCW-GGE members on LAWS. We start by collecting and analysing online publicly available assertions conflating LAWS and ‘The Terminator’ by relevant stakeholders to the CCW-GGE process. Then, we analyse the proceedings of CCW-GGE meetings and the recommendations and submissions published by participating member-states to identify any trace of science fiction-inspired conceptions. This study enhances our understanding of the decision-making process involved in the CCW-GGE process. By doing so, it seeks to delve into the complexities and implications of regulating a system that does not currently exist. This research will shed light on the challenges and impacts associated with establishing regulatory frameworks for hypothetical autonomous weapon systems, thus contributing to the academic discourse on this topic.
