The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has called for a thorough investigation at both local and international levels into the involvement of major global tech companies in civilian deaths in Gaza since October 7th. Reports indicate that Israel has utilized multiple technology systems powered by artificial intelligence in its actions against Palestinians.
These applications, employed by Israel, form a network capable of identifying and targeting individuals as legitimate suspects. However, their reliance on potential information not always relevant to the specific location or individual leads to concerns over their accuracy and the ultimate safety of civilians.
The AI-powered applications search for common features among the general population of Gaza and members of armed factions. As such, innocent people could be wrongly targeted due to physical resemblances or even name similarities, placing tens of thousands of Gaza residents at risk of being unjustly suspected and targeted.
An example of such technology is the “Lavender” system, an AI-based program playing a central role in the unprecedented bombing of Gaza, particularly in the early stages of the current conflict. The application has tagged up to 37,000 individuals as suspected militants, potentially guiding airstrikes against them and their homes.
Furthermore, social media platforms like Google and Meta have played impactful roles in the alleged violations against Palestinians in Gaza. The Euro-Mediterranean Monitor documented the death of six young Palestinians targeted by an Israeli airstrike while they were gathering to access internet signals. One of them was reporting the situation in their area via a WhatsApp group.
The integration of technology in these Israeli actions against Palestinians in Gaza has sparked heated discussions on social media. Human rights advocates are expressing concerns over the targeted killing of civilians and the potential classification of such actions as a form of mass extermination. They are pressing for an urgent discussion on the military use of artificial intelligence and cautioning against its unchecked application akin to the prohibitions on biological weapons. Critics also suggest that Meta may be complicit in war crimes and in facilitating what they perceive as a form of genocide in Gaza.
Key Questions and Answers:
What is the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor’s main concern?
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor is concerned about the involvement of major global tech companies in civilian deaths in Gaza, due to the suspected misuse of artificial intelligence-powered technology by Israel in identifying and targeting individuals.
How does the reported AI technology work in targeting individuals?
The AI applications search for common features among Gaza’s population and members of armed factions, which may lead to misidentification and the wrongful targeting of innocent people based on physical resemblance or name similarities.
What is the “Lavender” system?
The “Lavender” system is an AI-based program reportedly used by Israel in the bombing of Gaza, which has tagged up to 37,000 individuals as suspected militants, potentially guiding airstrikes against them and their homes.
What role have social media platforms played in the conflict?
Platforms like Google and Meta have been implicated in the conflict, with reports suggesting that they may have played roles in the targeting and killing of Palestinians. An instance involving six young Palestinians targeted by an airstrike while using internet signals was documented.
What are the human rights advocates calling for?
They are calling for an urgent discussion on the military use of artificial intelligence and are warning against its unchecked application, likening the need for regulation to that of prohibitions on biological weapons. They also suggest that companies like Meta may be complicit in war crimes.
Key Challenges and Controversies:
Accuracy of AI Technology:
The reliability of artificial intelligence in conflict zones is a major challenge. Misidentification can result in civilian casualties and raise questions about the ethical use of such technology.
Military Use of AI:
The controversy is surrounding the use of AI for military purposes, which includes discussions about the lack of transparency and accountability when technology leads to civilian harm.
Complicity of Tech Companies:
Determining the responsibility and potential complicity of tech companies in war crimes is complex. As global companies, they may be subject to international law but untangling their direct or indirect role in human rights violations is challenging.
Regulation and Oversight:
The situation underscores the need for regulation and oversight of AI use in military operations, akin to other weapons systems with strict international laws.
Advantages and Disadvantages:
Advantages:
– AI can potentially reduce the risk to military personnel by automating surveillance and targeting.
– The technology can process vast amounts of data to identify threats that might be missed by human analysts.
Disadvantages:
– Innocent civilians may be incorrectly targeted due to AI’s reliance on probabilistic assessments.
– The use of AI in military contexts might lower the threshold for engaging in conflict due to perceived reduced risks.
– It could lead to an arms race in lethal autonomous weapons, raising ethical and security concerns.
Related Links:
– Human Rights Watch: www.hrw.org
– Amnesty International: www.amnesty.org
– United Nations Human Rights: www.ohchr.org</a
The source of the article is from the blog maestropasta.cz