Violating the sixth commandment Intentional killing of human beings is a violation of human dignity and the 6thcommandment in the Bible, “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:18), reminded Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi from the Methodist Church in Nigeria, director of the Institute of Church and Society in Ibadan, Nigeria. “Murderers and those who cooperate voluntarily commit a grave sin which cries out to heaven for vengeance. So, if a machine kills without any human control – who is responsible to carry this sin?” asked Fadahunsi. “We cannot watch and let AI to be weaponized into a global threat. It is not to be left to the machines to decide who lives or who dies. As people of faith we must stand besides those who are vulnerable,” said Fadahunsi, who is also a member of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs. “Given that autonomous weapons systems are designed to target and kill based on data inputs and preprogrammed algorithms, we are extremely concerned about the algorithmic bias and discriminatory impact,” said Hayley Ramsay-Jones, representing Soka Gakkai International, a global community-based Buddhist organization. “Not only do we think that autonomous weapons will exacerbate existing inequalities, but they will also pose lethal consequences for marginalized groups. As a global association of Buddhists committed to upholding the ultimate respect for the life of oneself and others, with a rapid pace of change in emerging technologies and their serious implications for humanity’s future, we are compelled to take a strong stand against the autonomous weapons systems.” Among the 40 participants of the dialogue was also Illés Katona, a youth activist with the Hungarian Activist Network of Stop Killer Robots Campaign. “Even when wars occur and nations want to defend themselves, we have a natural instinct, sort of conscience towards peace. We can make that part of discussions and we can direct war towards peace. But if machines are making decisions during war—this human element is left out of the processes, and wars ultimately are not directed at peace, but at more wars,” said Katona. In November 2019, the WCC executive committee of the WCC adopted a minute on lethal autonomous weapons systems, affirming the grave concern of the ecumenical movement for implications of the development and deployment of such weapons and calling upon the member churches to advocate with their governments to support an international ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems. A Churches guide to Killer Robots is available on the WCC website in several languages. Video recording of the interfaith dialogue Photos from the interfaith dialogue WCC Executive committee: Minute on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems – “Killer Robots” (25 November 2019) Killer Robots: A Campaign Guide for Churches (WCC publication, 2021) The Stop Killer Robots campaign |
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