Attributing Legal Liability for Violations Involving Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems

论致命性自主武器违法的法律责任承担

The existing framework of international humanitarian law demonstrates ambiguities in legal subjectivity and deficiencies in accountability mechanisms within the field of autonomous weapons systems arms control, failing to adequately address the ethical and legal challenges stemming from technological advancements in Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). This article proposes establishing a multidimensional responsibility framework for LAWS deployment to bridge the “responsibility gap,” with critical measures including: clarifying LAWS definitional standards, identifying liable entities for unlawful acts, and coordinating domestic-international regulation of manufacturers. Through analysis of national approaches to LAWS definitions and examination of current international regulatory regimes, this study reveals the inadequacy of the state-individual dual responsibility structure. This article contends that resolving accountability challenges requires constructing a tripartite framework integrating international treaties, domestic legislation, and corporate compliance mechanisms. By incorporating manufacturers into liability subjects, this approach addresses fundamental gaps in LAWS governance.

现有国际人道法框架在自主武器系统军控领域存在法律主体模糊性与责任机制滞后性，难以应对致命性自主武器（LAWS）技术迭代带来的伦理与法律挑战。应当构建LAWS 部署使用中的多维责任框架，提出弥合“责任缺口”的系统性解决方案。其中，明确LAWS 的定义标准、界定LAWS 违法行为的责任主体以及国内法与国际法协同规制武器研发企业是回应当前LAWS违法责任承担问题的关键。本文梳理了当前各国对于LAWS 的定义以及接纳态度，并对当前LAWS 的国际法规制现状进行了规范分析。研究表明“国家-个人”的二元责任结构体系难以填补现有责任机制缺口。本文指出，LAWS 责任体系需突破传统“国家-个人”二元结构，构建“国际条约-国内立法-企业合规”的三层规制框架，将制造商纳入责任主体范畴，从而实现对当下LAWS 责任机制缺口困境的纾解。