“The means or methods of warfare are not unlimited.”

The defence tech industry is racing to build and own the autonomous operational software layer. But to truly own lethal decision-making, you must be able to demonstrate that you can both understand and control it.

Weapons reviews - the positive legal obligation on every nation to ensure their contemplated “means or methods” of warfare respect international norms and laws - have thus become the last bulwark between principled lethal autonomy and a dystopian race to the bottom.

Means or Methods is where I will explore the complicated legal, technical, and policy issues surrounding lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), returning always to what it means for weapons reviews.

Means or Methods is a personal publication. The views here are my own and do not represent ONE9, which has not reviewed or endorsed this work.