Use and misuse of new tecgnologies

The development of new technological devices or applications or the consequences of their use also pose new challenges for scholars of international and European law. Is the use of certain technologies tout court excluded by human rights regulations? To whom, and according to which rules, should any damage resulting from the use - even if not intentionally harmful - of a technological device (for example, a drone or an autonomous weapon) be attributed? How is the competent court determined where the use of technology makes the territorial rootedness of the dispute more and more evanescent or requires the simultaneous involvement of multiple jurisdictions? How is it possible to ensure adequate reparation for victims of offenses resulting from the use of technological devices? The research project intends to examine whether, and if so to what extent, existing legal regimes offer an adequate response to the implications of technological development or whether, on the other hand, new rules have to be devised.

Dissemination Events and Research

• On 19 and 20 June 2017, a workshop was held at the Palazzo Centrale of the University of Parma, open to the participation of young Italian and foreign researchers, on the theme "New Technologies as Shields and Swords: Challenges for International, European Union and Domestic Law". The event was co-organized by CSEIA and online journal QIL (Questions of International Law).

• Publication in the online journal QUESTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW of the Zoom-in "Coming Soon ...? A reappraisal of the legal and ethical implications of Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) ahead of the first metting of the CCW Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal AWS ". Contributions:

  • E. Carpanelli, N. Lazzerini, Introduction
  • D. Amoroso, Jus in bello and jus ad bellum arguments against autonomy in weapons systems: A reappraisal
  • A. Spagnolo, Human rights implications of autonomous weapon systems in domestic law enforcement: sci-fi reflections in a lo-fi reality
  • O. Ulgen, Kanthian ethics in the age of artificial intelligenceAvailable at: http://www.qil-qdi.org/coming-soon-reappraisal-legal-ethical-implications-autonomous-weapons-systems-aws-ahead-first-meeting-ccw-group-governmental-experts-lethal-aws/.
• Publication of the book: E. Carpanelli, N. Lazzerini (a cura di), "Use and Misuse of New Technology. Contemporary Challenges in European and International Law" (Springer, 2019).