Autonomous Weapon Systems and Autonomous Cyber Weapons: Convergence in respect of Concepts, Features, Scope, and Implications on International Law.

This article examines the convergence between autonomous weapon systems—defined as weapons capable of selecting and engaging targets without human intervention—and autonomous cyber weapons, arguing that both share key technological features and legal challenges under international humanitarian law (IHL). It highlights that autonomous cyber weapons are a subset of autonomous weapon systems, despite often being treated separately in international discussions, and contends that distinctions based on lethality or physicality are legally insufficient to separate them. The article further explores how these weapons impact the thresholds for classifying armed conflicts and complicate adherence to fundamental IHL principles such as distinction and proportionality. It concludes that integrated and coherent international legal frameworks should address both autonomous weapon systems and autonomous cyber weapons to effectively regulate their development and use.