Organizations such as "Access Now", "Amnesty International", and over "200 civil society organizations" issued a joint statement calling on governments and tech companies to immediately cease the use of "artificial intelligence" systems for "military targeting". According to them, war involving such technologies is turning into a "death conveyor operating at unprecedented speed and scale".
The coalition sounds the alarm about the "new gunpowder"
In their common position, published against the backdrop of ongoing military operations using AI in several conflict zones, the coalition insists that states and technology companies "cease the provision and use of technologies that undermine compliance with international law in armed conflicts". According to them, AI tools used for "generating targets" and "prioritizing them" push militaries toward a form of warfare that violates the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.
"AI has become the new gunpowder, and tech companies are the new arms dealers," states "Marwa Fatafta", Policy and Advocacy Director for the "MENA" region at "Access Now". "From Gaza to Lebanon and Iran – the reality of the violence brought by AI-based kill chains destroys any claims that these systems can be used responsibly," she adds.
Maven, "Claude" and Operation "Epic Fury"
The coalition's appeal follows journalistic revelations that the "Maven Smart System" by "Palantir", integrated with the "Claude" AI model by "Anthropic", was used in operation "Epic Fury", led by the US against "Iran". According to reports, the system was used to "identify and prioritize over 1000 targets in 24 hours".
According to data from specialized publications, "Claude" acts as a "reasoning mechanism" that helps synchronize various modules and simplify tasks for human operators. This, critics say, creates a risk that life-and-death decisions are effectively delegated to algorithms, even when there is formal talk of a "human in the loop".
Legal framework lags behind technology
"Human Rights Watch", one of the founders of the "Stop Killer Robots" campaign, has repeatedly warned that the use of AI in armed conflicts is outpacing the development of legal mechanisms and international rules. In March, the organization criticized the "Pentagon's" decision to reject ethical restrictions on the military use of AI proposed by "Anthropic", calling it a "clear sign that the Pentagon is unlikely to ensure real safeguards".
The "Donald Trump" administration on "June 4" reversed course, signing a "National Security Presidential Memorandum" that prescribes accelerated deployment of AI for "service members and intelligence officials". The document tasks the Secretary of Defense "Pete Hegseth" to review current directives on "autonomy in weapons systems" within "90 days".
Meanwhile, in March, the journal "Nature" published an editorial calling for AI not to be used in armed conflicts until "concrete rules" for such application are developed. The text emphasizes that "no international law" currently explicitly mentions AI in the context of armed conflicts, which leaves serious "legal voids".
Call for transparency and a moratorium
The coalition of civil society organizations calls on states to "cease the use of AI tools in selecting military targets", to guarantee "transparency" regarding how such systems are already being used in combat operations, and to require companies to take measures that preclude the possibility of their technologies causing harm or assisting in violations of international law.
"Companies that develop AI cannot claim to act in the interest of all humanity while simultaneously profiting from lucrative military contracts," says "Daniel Leufer", Senior Policy Analyst for "Europe" at "Access Now". "It is time to put an end to hollow ethical declarations and start real accountability," he adds, pushing for stricter control over the involvement of private technology companies in military programs.