Course on Ethics in Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS)
Online 300-hour course on ethics in lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS). 6 modules covering the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (1980), Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions (1977), Article 36 and NVivo. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
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Run a real engineering trade-off from this programme. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the degrees of autonomy in weapon systems and their terminology.
Analyse the applicable international law and the debates within the framework of the CCW.
Contrast the main ethical arguments for and against LAWS.
Define the concept of meaningful human control and its technical implications.
Assess the professional responsibility of the engineer in developing autonomy.
Evaluate national and international regulatory proposals.
Produce a well-founded analysis of a LAWS case.
Who it's for
- Arms control analyst who wishes to specialise in Ethics in Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS).
- Legal adviser in international humanitarian law who wishes to specialise in Ethics in Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS).
- Researcher in technology ethics who wishes to specialise in Ethics in Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS).
- Defence policy analyst who wishes to specialise in Ethics in Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS).
- Autonomous systems engineer who wishes to specialise in Ethics in Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS).
- Specialist in technology diplomacy who wishes to specialise in Ethics in Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS).
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to join international organisations.
What you'll work with
- Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (1980)
- Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions (1977), Article 36
- Guiding principles of the CCW GGE on lethal autonomous weapon systems (2019)
- Martens Clause (Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907)
- United Nations General Assembly Resolution 78/241 on autonomous weapon systems (2023)
- US Department of Defense Directive 3000.09 (autonomy in weapon systems)
- IEEE 7000-2021 (values-based design)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Definitions of autonomous weapon system1.2Critical functions: selection and attack1.3Existing defensive systems: CIWS and missile defence1.4Loitering munitions: the autonomy debate1.5Spectrum of autonomy and human supervision1.6Difference between automation and autonomy1.7Driving factors: speed and saturation1.8Escalation and proliferation risks1.9Positions of the main States1.10Workshop: classifying systems according to their degree of autonomy
2.1Principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution2.2Martens Clause and public conscience2.3Reviews of new weapons: Article 362.4Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons2.5Group of Governmental Experts on LAWS2.6Eleven guiding principles of 20192.7United Nations General Assembly resolutions2.8Treaty and prohibition proposals2.9Human rights and police use2.10Practice: simulated Article 36 review of a weapon
3.1Human dignity and the decision to kill3.2Responsibility gap3.3Arguments for reducing civilian harm3.4Dehumanisation and moral distance3.5ICRC position (2021)3.6International Stop Killer Robots campaign3.7Virtue ethics and the professional military3.8Consequentialism versus deontology3.9Public opinion and legitimacy3.10Workshop: debate with opposing positions
4.1Elements of meaningful human control4.2Limitations on targets, time and space4.3Predictability and understandability of the system4.4Intervention and deactivation4.5Automation bias in supervision4.6DoD Directive 3000.09 of 20234.7NATO principles for the responsible use of AI4.8Technical design for supervision4.9Compliance verification4.10Case study: analysis of incidents involving automatic defensive systems
5.1Engineer's responsibility in design5.2Testing, evaluation, verification and validation5.3Unpredictability of machine learning5.4Reliability in adversarial environments5.5Commitments of researchers and companies5.6Professional conscientious objection5.7Export control and proliferation5.8Confidence-building measures5.9Transparency and international verification5.10Case study: an R&D team facing an autonomy contract
6.1Selection of a system or scenario6.2Technical description of autonomy6.3International legal analysis6.4Multi-perspective ethical analysis6.5Proposal of human control measures6.6Public policy recommendations6.7Proliferation risk assessment6.8Synthesis and conclusions6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded lectures and assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which allows it to be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is NVivo, Zotero, Microsoft Excel advanced, Miro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Assessments are based on real procedures for analysing international negotiation documents, structured case debates and simulated legal reviews of new weapons. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand the degrees of autonomy in weapon systems and their terminology.
Analyse the applicable international law and the debates within the framework of the CCW.
Contrast the main ethical arguments for and against LAWS.
Define the concept of meaningful human control and its technical implications.
Assess the professional responsibility of the engineer in developing autonomy.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with NVivo, Zotero, Microsoft Excel advanced, Miro. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Please consult the credit transfer policy when enrolling.
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