Contact tracing apps could be used to control the COVID-19 outbreak. Most of them work by automatically registering another smartphone when it is close by for a set period of time. If the user then tests positive for COVID-19 in the future, the contact tracing app notifies these contacts. Concerns have been raised about misuse of personal data. Initial data suggests there has been slow uptake of this new technology by users, and it's unclear if contact tracing apps have had or will affect the pandemic. Northern Ireland, Scotland, and now England and Wales have recently launched contact tracing apps.
Documents to download
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Automation in Military Operations (305 KB, PDF)
Summary
Automated technology is increasingly used in military activities such as intelligence gathering, navigation and weapons delivery. This POSTnote examines current and future military applications of automation, and considers associated legal, ethical and societal issues.
Overview
- Military systems have an increasing range of automated functions but there are no fully autonomous systems in use.
- Each of the main military domains – air, land and sea – make use of automation.
- Technological challenges include on board data processing capabilities, data transfer, and power.
- Deployment of armed remotely piloted vehicles has raised various issues including the need for transparency about how they are used by governments.
- There is debate over whether a pre-emptive ban is needed on future lethal autonomous weapons systems, which could select and attack targets without human intervention
Documents to download
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Automation in Military Operations (305 KB, PDF)
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