An appeal from Drone Wars UK

Dear Friends,

While states continue to wrangle in international conferences about whether new rules are needed to control the use of AI in warfare, corporations and militaries are already rapidly pushing ahead with developing and deploying such systems. 

Earlier this year, the US used its Palantir-developed Maven Smart System to enable it to strike more than 1,000 targets in the first 24 hours of its unlawful attack on Iran – including the devastating strike on the Shajara Tayyiba school, which killed 157 people, the vast majority of them children. 

Graves being dug for victims of strike on Shajara Tayyiba school

Israel too has used a number of its AI systems such as ‘Habsora’ and ‘Where’s Daddy?’ in its genocidal war on Gaza. Meanwhile the UK is cutting a number of budgets (including its Aid and Net Zero budgets) in order to fund the development of new military AI and drone systems such at the Digital Targeting Web.

But despite what advocates sometimes insist, AI systems are no better at protecting civilians in warfare. In fact through speeding up ‘the kill chain’ and by increasing the overall number of strikes we are very likely to see even more civilian casualties. 

“The future of warfare is here, and it’s spelled AI.”

Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of War

An Alternative Voice

While politicians and retired generals regularly appear in national media to argue that the UK has little choice but to develop and deploy such systems, we believe that its crucial that the public, politicians and the media get an alternative view of these developments.  Since 2010, Drone Wars UK has undertaken long-term, detailed scrutiny of military drone and AI programmes and provided critical analysis of the harms caused. 

Drone Wars is regularly sought out by national and international journalists looking for an alternative view and to help them understand emerging military technology from a critical perspective. While much of this work is done on ‘background’, over the past year our team have been quoted on these issues by The Financial Times, BBC Radio 4, The Guardian, Al Jazeera and a host of other media outlets.  Our information and analysis is also regularly used by the House of Commons Library in their briefings for member of the Houses of Parliament on these issues. 

Supporting Local Action

Alongside our research and media work we are engaged in national and international campaigning on these issues.  But perhaps more importantly we are engaged in supporting campaigners challenge these developments at the local level. Over the past year we have directly supported campaigners opposing the setting up of a new military drone testing hub in Swindon; worked with local campaigners to challenge the use of Fairford for attacks on Iran; supported Scottish campaigners challenging the use of SaxaVord Spaceport; and helped campaigners in Wiltshire begin to challenge the expansion of a US-owned drone company there. 

Drone Wars is recognised internationally as a credible and reliable source of information on the new tech wars, with our research and analysis used by journalists, lawyers, MPs, human rights organisions and peace campaigners.  

At a time when the  government is doubling down on spending on new weapons technology, we need help to  step up our efforts. 

Drone Wars is a small organisation that relies heavily on donations to support its research and, especially, its campaigning work. 

We know there are a lot of call on your purse but if you share our vision of a peaceful and fair world and want to help challenge those who insist that ‘might is right’ please consider making a one-off or regular donation towards our work.