Rights groups call for halt to AI use in military
A joint statement signed by civil society organisations, researchers and technology workers warns that AI systems used in military decision-making could weaken accountability and increase risks under international humanitarian and human rights law.
A coalition of civil society organisations, researchers, legal experts, technology workers and individuals has issued a joint statement calling on states and technology companies to stop the use of AI systems in military kill chains.
The statement, published on 15 June 2026 and updated on 23 June, warns that AI is being integrated into military operations in ways that could accelerate the speed and scale of attacks. The signatories argue that this creates serious risks for accountability, civilian protection and compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law.
A military kill chain refers to the process through which a target is identified, analysed, approved and attacked. The statement focuses on AI systems that may support parts of this process, including target generation tools, decision-support systems, remote biometric surveillance, data analysis platforms and large language models.
The signatories argue that AI systems should not be used to recommend, prioritise or support human targeting. They say such systems can make military decisions appear more objective than they are, while reducing meaningful human judgement in life-and-death decisions.
The statement also raises concerns about the role of technology companies. It says companies across the AI supply chain, including those providing models, cloud infrastructure, data processing and storage, have responsibilities under human rights standards. The signatories argue that companies should not enter or fulfil military contracts where they cannot prevent or mitigate risks of contributing to violations of international law.
The statement refers to recent reporting on the use of AI-enabled systems in military operations, including in relation to US and Israeli actions. It also cites concerns about AI tools used by Israel in Gaza. These claims are presented by the signatories as examples of the risks they believe arise when automated or AI-assisted systems are used in conflict.
The groups reject the view that technical safeguards alone can make such systems safe in current military contexts. They argue that “human in the loop” procedures may become a formality if AI systems generate targets at a speed and scale that makes meaningful review impossible.
The statement calls on technology companies to refrain from selling, transferring, servicing or exporting AI decision-support systems for military kill chains and human targeting. It also calls on states to halt the use of AI tools, including large language models, in military targeting and to disclose how AI is currently being used in hostilities.
The signatories include Access Now, Amnesty International, European Digital Rights, AlgorithmWatch, the Association for Progressive Communications, the Stop Killer Robots Campaign, and many other organisations and individuals.
