Comment by Malcolm Davis

Our authoritarian adversaries, like Russia and China, and rogue states like North Korea are not going to sign up to this ban, he said. [Automated weapons] will completely change the speed and efficiency with which armies can kill the other side, he said. They will be weapons of terror, weapons that get used by rogue nations and terrorists against civilian populations. Australia has been rather unhelpful in the discussion so far surrounding autonomous weapons. It's a great disappointment, because Australia has often led the way on discussion about nuclear non-proliferation treaties and weapon bans, yet this time we seem to be more careful to follow the US lead.