Comments on: The Second Amendment in Iraq, Combat Robotics, and the Future of Human Liberty http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820 Free science and engineering in the global public interest Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:53:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Richard Ginn http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820/comment-page-1#comment-10244 Richard Ginn Mon, 19 Sep 2011 01:08:52 +0000 http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820#comment-10244 The rise of the machines. Following another sci-fi movie plot. Maybe if we write a better plot then we can follow that instead? The rise of the machines. Following another sci-fi movie plot. Maybe if we write a better plot then we can follow that instead?

]]> By: Andrew http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820/comment-page-1#comment-6494 Andrew Tue, 26 May 2009 20:49:16 +0000 http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820#comment-6494 Interesting h+ article mentioning open-source military robots: http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/robotics/wired-war-or-how-we-learned-stop-worrying-and-let-dystopian-sf-movies-inspire-our- Interesting h+ article mentioning open-source military robots: http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/robotics/wired-war-or-how-we-learned-stop-worrying-and-let-dystopian-sf-movies-inspire-our-

]]> By: Andy Freeman http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820/comment-page-1#comment-6439 Andy Freeman Wed, 20 May 2009 16:37:24 +0000 http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820#comment-6439 I can't find the article now, but in the same issue of the Yale Law Journal where Levinson's "The Embarrassing Second Amendment" was published, there was another article arguing that nuclear weapons were a violation of the 2nd amendment because they allowed war-making without real-time human involvement. I can’t find the article now, but in the same issue of the Yale Law Journal where Levinson’s “The Embarrassing Second Amendment” was published, there was another article arguing that nuclear weapons were a violation of the 2nd amendment because they allowed war-making without real-time human involvement.

]]> By: Sean Johnson http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820/comment-page-1#comment-6381 Sean Johnson Tue, 12 May 2009 11:07:31 +0000 http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820#comment-6381 Very good essay and a powerful wake-up call. The biggest issue I have with it is that you don't at all consider the ability of the people to take up this technology and use it against the government. Weaponry has seen tremendous technological advancement since the constitution. If the 2nd amendment only guaranteed the right to muskets and cannons, it'd already be as meaningless as you propose it will be against combat robots. Why not a push instead to make sure all technology stays available to private hands? Technology as a whole (the Internet as a great example) has often served as a powerful fulcrum that leveled the playing field between state power and the power that can be wielded by individuals and small groups. Look at how hard it is for totalitarian regimes to hold onto power in light of cheap and ubiquitous information and communication. Look at how cell phones, remote controls, and the Internet are being used in Iraq to combat US forces. I think combat robotics are a terrible idea. If for no other reason than your conclusion that they make war too cheap and palatable for the side that deploys them. It is time for a new Geneva convention that speaks to both the human rights of non-governmental fighters and defines the allowable role of robotics in the field. At the same time it is critical that we continue to push for private rights to all the technology that the government has access too. Stopping technological progress is a fool's errand. Ensuring there is not governmental monopoly to that technology is essential to safeguard liberty. Thank you, Sean Very good essay and a powerful wake-up call. The biggest issue I have with it is that you don’t at all consider the ability of the people to take up this technology and use it against the government.

Weaponry has seen tremendous technological advancement since the constitution. If the 2nd amendment only guaranteed the right to muskets and cannons, it’d already be as meaningless as you propose it will be against combat robots. Why not a push instead to make sure all technology stays available to private hands?

Technology as a whole (the Internet as a great example) has often served as a powerful fulcrum that leveled the playing field between state power and the power that can be wielded by individuals and small groups. Look at how hard it is for totalitarian regimes to hold onto power in light of cheap and ubiquitous information and communication. Look at how cell phones, remote controls, and the Internet are being used in Iraq to combat US forces.

I think combat robotics are a terrible idea. If for no other reason than your conclusion that they make war too cheap and palatable for the side that deploys them. It is time for a new Geneva convention that speaks to both the human rights of non-governmental fighters and defines the allowable role of robotics in the field. At the same time it is critical that we continue to push for private rights to all the technology that the government has access too.

Stopping technological progress is a fool’s errand. Ensuring there is not governmental monopoly to that technology is essential to safeguard liberty.

Thank you,
Sean

]]> By: Andrew http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820/comment-page-1#comment-6374 Andrew Mon, 11 May 2009 16:49:24 +0000 http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820#comment-6374 Vinay, Thanks for the thought-provoking article. However, I really hope you add the following to your analysis: Hacking. If robots such as what you've described become commonplace enough, how long until they're hacked to turn on their controllers? As a (former?) programmer, you *know* it's impossible to make the robots 100% hack-proof. Vinay,

Thanks for the thought-provoking article. However, I really hope you add the following to your analysis:

Hacking.

If robots such as what you’ve described become commonplace enough, how long until they’re hacked to turn on their controllers? As a (former?) programmer, you *know* it’s impossible to make the robots 100% hack-proof.

]]> By: Vinay http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820/comment-page-1#comment-5837 Vinay Sun, 12 Apr 2009 06:56:06 +0000 http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820#comment-5837 Mamading, I can always be counted on to go the extra mile into darkness. http://www.cerealart.com/controlpanel/images/cerealart/IRACOHEN-Naga-Hardiwar-1986-14.jpg is a guru of the sect next door to mine. You get the idea. We look into the darkness so that nothing escapes our embrace of what is real. Mamading, I can always be counted on to go the extra mile into darkness.

http://www.cerealart.com/controlpanel/images/cerealart/IRACOHEN-Naga-Hardiwar-1986-14.jpg is a guru of the sect next door to mine. You get the idea. We look into the darkness so that nothing escapes our embrace of what is real.

]]> By: Rob http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820/comment-page-1#comment-5836 Rob Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:38:24 +0000 http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820#comment-5836 Isn't it too late already? ROBOTICs will continue, regardless of combat development. Eventually robots will be able to pick up their own guns and fight won't they? Isn’t it too late already? ROBOTICs will continue, regardless of combat development. Eventually robots will be able to pick up their own guns and fight won’t they?

]]> By: Mamading Ceesay http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820/comment-page-1#comment-5835 Mamading Ceesay Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:45:33 +0000 http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820#comment-5835 The world you are describing here is a dark, dark place I never want to visit, let alone live in. This is a serious, plausible scenario that there has been zero mobilisation against. I for one, never imagined that this is how combat robotics could play out as I had never given it a thought. Fictional combat robots like Johnny Five & Solo rebelled against their creators & simply sought to have a life affirming existence rather than become the weapons they were created to be. However, that is only fiction and we would be foolish to think that real combat robots would have a conscience and morality in any way at all. If we allow the rise of the combat robots, ultimately we will see the fall of the liberty of mankind. Enabled by technologically-facilitated tyrannny that makes 1984 look like a teddy bear's picnic. Almost makes a grim meathook future look good. The world you are describing here is a dark, dark place I never want to visit, let alone live in. This is a serious, plausible scenario that there has been zero mobilisation against. I for one, never imagined that this is how combat robotics could play out as I had never given it a thought.

Fictional combat robots like Johnny Five & Solo rebelled against their creators & simply sought to have a life affirming existence rather than become the weapons they were created to be. However, that is only fiction and we would be foolish to think that real combat robots would have a conscience and morality in any way at all.

If we allow the rise of the combat robots, ultimately we will see the fall of the liberty of mankind. Enabled by technologically-facilitated tyrannny that makes 1984 look like a teddy bear’s picnic. Almost makes a grim meathook future look good.

]]> By: Chris L http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820/comment-page-1#comment-4619 Chris L Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:33:20 +0000 http://vinay.howtolivewiki.com/blog/global/the-second-amendment-in-iraq-combat-robotics-and-the-future-of-human-liberty-820#comment-4619 Chilling. Thanks for posting this. All our worst paranoid dreams, but without the wingnut conspiracy-theorizing. This is all very plausible. Combine it with the increasing role of China as a proving ground for facial recognition software and automated surveillance, and we have a genuine nightmare scenario. Chilling. Thanks for posting this. All our worst paranoid dreams, but without the wingnut conspiracy-theorizing. This is all very plausible. Combine it with the increasing role of China as a proving ground for facial recognition software and automated surveillance, and we have a genuine nightmare scenario.

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