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Guterres Urges Binding Ban on AI Weapons That Kill Without Human Control

September 21, 2026 at 16:27 EDT

Policy & Regulation
Security

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has renewed his call for governments to prohibit lethal autonomous weapon systems that can select and attack human targets without human judgment. The appeal, issued with International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric, presses states to begin negotiations on binding international rules before autonomous weapons proliferate further.

Aug. 25, 2026 · United Nations

A push to ban autonomous killing

António Guterres and the ICRC renewed their call for binding rules on weapons that can select and attack targets without human judgment.

2026

Target year for moving toward binding negotiations

2023

First joint appeal for autonomous-weapon rules

Members on the global scientific body on AI

Three-year treaty window

2023

Initial appeal

2026

Renewed deadline push

Each block represents one year since the first joint appeal.

What the proposed line targets

Select targets

A system identifies who or what to attack.

Engage targets

The weapon acts after activation.

Human judgment

The appeal argues lethal choices must remain under human control.

Supporters' case

Binding rules could protect civilians, preserve accountability and set limits before autonomous weapons spread further.

Hard questions

Definitions, verification and military incentives remain difficult barriers to any enforceable treaty.

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