Current Affairs

Dual Use Technologies Raise Legal and Ethical Questions in Warfare

Source:Indian Express ↗

हे का महत्त्वाचे आहे

Dual-use technologies are at the heart of modern geopolitical competition and internal security debates. Understanding their regulatory, ethical, and strategic implications is vital for aspirants addressing science, technology, and national security in GS3 and GS4.

सारांश

This article examines the strategic, legal, and ethical dimensions of dual-use technologies—such as AI, biotechnology, and advanced communication tools—that serve both civilian and military functions, fundamentally altering modern warfare and regulatory frameworks.

मुख्य मुद्दे

  • Dual-use technologies refer to innovations developed for civilian or commercial purposes that can also be weaponized or repurposed for military and strategic conflicts.
  • Examples include artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, commercial drones, and advanced semiconductor chips.
  • The integration of commercial tech in modern warfare blurs the line between combatants and civilians, raising complex International Humanitarian Law (IHL) challenges.
  • Ethical dilemmas involve accountability, autonomous decision-making in weapons, data privacy, and the risk of escalation through proliferation.

पूर्वपरीक्षा सापळा

Dual-use technologies are exclusively defense-oriented hardware developed solely under military research and development grants.

Dual-use technologies are not exclusively military innovations; they originate in the civilian/commercial sphere and can be repurposed, making absolute export bans politically and economically challenging.

संबंधित स्थिर संकल्पना

Security Challenges and International Relations

What are the key multilateral export control regimes regulating dual-use technologies globally?

  • Wassenaar Arrangement: Wassenaar Arrangement focuses on conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
  • Australia Group: Australia Group harmonizes export controls on materials, equipment, and technologies that could contribute to chemical or biological weapons.
  • Nuclear Suppliers Group: Nuclear Suppliers Group controls the export of nuclear and nuclear-related dual-use materials and technologies.
  • MTCR: Missile Technology Control Regime restricts the proliferation of missiles, unmanned air vehicles, and related dual-use tech.

आंतर-विषय नमुने

  • Dual-Use Tech & SCOMET Export Controls

    The challenge of regulating dual-use tech overlaps directly with India's export controls under the SCOMET list and its push for technology denial regimes.

  • AI Warfare & International Humanitarian Law

    The deployment of AI and lethal autonomous weapons systems creates deep friction with established International Humanitarian Law and domestic ethics papers.

Expect a statement-based question linking dual-use technologies, IHL principles of distinction, and multilateral export control regimes.

संबंधित PYQ · 2

संबंधित PYQ · 2

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