Holy See calls for UN moratorium on autonomous weapons
- The Holy See's Permanent Observer to the UN, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, urged a moratorium on autonomous lethal weapons during a session on Emerging Technologies.
- Balestrero emphasized that machines lack the moral judgment and empathy necessary for responsible decision-making, which is unique to humans.
- The Holy See concluded that technological advancements must be accompanied by ethical considerations to ensure they serve human dignity and the common good.
This week, the Holy See's Permanent Observer to the United Nations in Geneva, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, called for a moratorium on the development of autonomous lethal weapons during an expert session on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). The Holy See expressed ethical concerns regarding these weapons, emphasizing that they cannot be considered morally responsible entities due to their lack of human judgment and empathy. Balestrero highlighted the unique capacity of humans to make moral decisions, which machines cannot replicate, stressing the importance of human dignity in discussions about artificial intelligence. The Holy See's position reflects a broader caution regarding the implications of unregulated artificial intelligence research. The statement echoed sentiments previously articulated by Pope Francis, who has warned against the risks associated with advanced technologies that may undermine human dignity. Balestrero quoted the Pope, asserting the necessity of maintaining human control over AI decisions to safeguard human dignity. Furthermore, the Holy See cautioned that the advancement of sophisticated weaponry is not a viable solution to global issues. Instead, it advocated for technological progress to be aligned with ethical values and responsibility, ensuring that such advancements serve the common good and integral human development. As a non-voting observer state at the United Nations since 1964, the Holy See continues to influence discussions on ethical considerations in technology, emphasizing that critical decisions affecting human lives should never be entrusted solely to algorithms.